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REPORT 


OF THE 

New Ijork ‘ C'v Udu-. :^ 

JOINT COMMITTEE 



OF THE 

Senate and Assembly, 

Xn relation to the Message of the Governor of the 
18th of January last, implicating the conduct 
of sundry individuals holding offices 
under the General Government. 


WITH THE 


ACCOMPANYING THE SAME. 



JLBJJS'Y; 


PRINTED BY CANTINE & LEAKE. 












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4 


REPORT, 


THE joint committee of the Senate and Assem¬ 
bly, to whom was refered the message of his Excel¬ 
lency the Governor, of the 18 th of January last, with 
the documents accompanying the same, 

REPORT, 

That the charge contained in the speech of his 
Excellency, delivered at the commencement of the 
session, must, in the opinion of the committee, have 
been designed to apply to the President of the Uni¬ 
ted States, and to the heads of department at Wash¬ 
ington ; and to implicate them, as having arrayed 
“ an organized and diciplined corps” of their officers 
in this state, for the purpose of improperly “ interfer¬ 
ing in our elections, and of violating the purity and 
independence of our local government.” Although 
the accusation is made hypothetically, the intent can¬ 
not be mistaken; nor is the force of it diminished, 
by the ambiguous form in which it is prefered. If 
it were possible, however, for any one to hesitate as 
to the nature and extent of the charge, the last com¬ 
munication of his Excellency, with the accompany¬ 
ing documents, transmitted by him, in reply to a res¬ 
olution of the Assembly, and referred to the commit¬ 
tee, must convince the most skeptical. 

In this message, no doubt is attempted to be rais¬ 
ed ; no hypothesis is set forth, for argument or dis¬ 
pute ; no effort is made, to veil the design; the accu¬ 
sation is positive and unequivocal. It is only neces¬ 
sary to refer to that part of the message, which re¬ 
lates to the conduct of General Swift, to remove ev- 


4 


* €ry lingering scruple. “ When,** says the Governofj. 
^^the situation, connexions, education, and political 
principles of this officer of the United States, are con¬ 
sidered, there can be no doubt, but that he had previ¬ 
ously ascertained the sense of his political superiors, 
and that he was instructed to act accordingly,* The 
allusion to the President of the United States, and 
the heads of department, as the political superiors** 
who “ mstructed** General Swift, to pursue the course 
which he did, at the last election, cannot be misun¬ 
derstood. The remarks of his Excellency, respect¬ 
ing Messrs. Tillotson and Sutherland, whose affinity 
to the President of the United States, and to the Sec^ 
retary of the Navy, respectively, is particularly men¬ 
tioned, further establish this position. The crim¬ 
ination of the gentleman presiding over the post-of¬ 
fice department, is also of the most unequivocal char¬ 
acter. In reference to the appointment of Mr. Ja¬ 
cob Van Ness, post master at Poughkeepsie, his Ex¬ 
cellency observes, “ this event actually took place, and 
indicates an understanding and co-operation, between 
a department at least, at Washington, and a political 
party in this state** Tlie Secretary of State of the 
United States, designates the newspapers, in the sev¬ 
eral states, in which the laws of the Union are to be 
published. A change has recently been made of 
one of those papers, and this circumstance is men¬ 
tioned by the Governor, to impeach that officer, of 
the general government. Many additional cbserva- 
tions might be specified, but it is deemed unnecessary 
to detail them. 

The serious nature of this accusation, seemed to 
strike the community with astonishment; inasmuch 
as the existence of any extraneous influence, in our 
elections, had never been observed by our citizens, 
whose^watchfulness against all encroachments upon 
their rights, has been unremitted. Had this denun¬ 
ciation of the officers of the general government, 
been made in any form, less solemn and imposing ; 


5 


or by an individual, not clothed with the authority 
of government in a high official station; it would not 
have met the notice of the legislature. It would prob¬ 
ably have been considered the mere effervescence of 
party animosity ; or perhaps, the invective of some 
political zealot, whose “ vaulting ambition” did not 
shrink from the idea, of severing the bonds of friend¬ 
ship between the general and state governments; or 
perhaps, it might have been viewed, as the refuge of 
some disappointed intriguer, willing to account for 
the decline of his popularity, in any other than the 
true way—a loss of the confidence of the people. 
But when the chief magistrate of this state, in the per¬ 
formance of his constitutional duty, announces to the 
legislature, the existence of an “ organised and disci¬ 
plined corps of officers of the general government^ 
who have interfered in our elections, and protesting 
against such interference, calls upon the people “ to 
resist these alarming attempts upon the purity and in ¬ 
dependence of their local government f these consider* 
ations may seem to be irrevalent, if not inadmissible. 
The subject then becomes too deeply interesting, to 
the people of this state, to be attributed to motives, 
such as have been alluded to ; and their representa¬ 
tives would be wanting in their duty to their consti¬ 
tuents, to disregard it. It was for these reasons, that 
both branches of the legislature, promptly demanded 
of the executive, the evidence in his possession, to sub^ 
stantiate the allegations which he had made. Thb 
evidence has been furnished; but so far from demon¬ 
strating the existence of any improper influence, on 
the part of the general government in the local con 
cerns of this state ; or of any organization of its offi 
cers, for corrupt purposes; or of any concert of ac 
tion among them at our elections; it establishes noth 
ing more, in the opinion of the committee, than that 
a few individuals, holding offices under the United 
States, were active at the last election, in support of 


6 


their favourite candidates; and exposes some particu¬ 
lar acts and declarations of particular ojfficers. 

Before reviewing the various documents which 
have been received by the committee, from the indi¬ 
viduals whose conduct has been implicated, it is pro¬ 
per to examine some of the novel positions, assumed 
by the executive, in his message. Until his excellen¬ 
cy asserted that the officers of the U nited States, 
were objects of jealousy^'' and ^fariially disfranchi- 
sedf their enjoyment, as citizensof the several states, 
of all rights not expressly prohibited, had never been 
denied to them. The general government must have 
officers in the several states, and if the elective fran¬ 
chise of the citizens of the states respectively, is for¬ 
feited or impaired, by accepting an office under the 
United States, honorable and competent men would 
disdain to make such a sacrifice. The facts and the 
reasoning upon them, by which this doctrine is at¬ 
tempted to be enforced, are by no means satisfactory. 
That national officers cannot “ sit in Congress, or in 
the electoral colleges,” is indisputable ; these are 
mandatory provisions of the constitution, and the rea¬ 
son of them is both obvious and sound. But does 
it follow that they are not entitled to the enjoyment 
of all other privileges, where no restraint is imposed ? 
Does it not rather follow, that where there is a re¬ 
striction, as to a particular right, the legality of exer¬ 
cising every other, is, by such exception, confirmed ? 
It is the very essence of our republican system, and 
the languageofour state constitution,that no man can 
be disfi-anchised, by implication or by analogy, nor de¬ 
prived of his suffrage, but by positive enactment; and 
any other principle is dangerous to our liberties, and, 
in the opinion of the committee, wholly untenable. 

The observation of his excellency, that an “ offi¬ 
cer of the general government cannot sit in the state 
legislature,” so far as respects this state, is certainly 
incorrect; and it is not a little surprising that this re¬ 
mark should have been made by him, with a knowl- 


7 


edge of the fact, that persons holding offices under 
the general govemment, many of whom are his po¬ 
litical friends, were, at that lime, members of both 
branches of the legislature. If his excellency’s as¬ 
sertion be correct, how is this inconsistency to be re¬ 
conciled ? Or why is its continuance permitted?— 
Would it not be his peculiar province, to notice such 
an infringement of the constitution, and to warn the 
representatives of the people against its predomi¬ 
nance ? The idea, in the opinion of the committee, 
ist unsound, and cannot be maintained. That some 
of the states have prohibited officers of the general 
government, from holding seats in their legislatures, 
does not vary the case : this they had a perfect mht 
to do ; it is a question of expediency alone. The 
constituent branches of the legislature of this state, 
have not adopted this policy, considering it illiberal, 
partially to disfranchise a portion of their citizens, 
selected for their talents and respectability, to fill the 
offices of the general government. 

The concurrent resolution, passed in March, 1790^ 
which is mentioned in the message, only proves, that 
it was deemed improper, at that period, by the Le¬ 
gislature which adopted it, for a member of Com 
gress, or other person holding an office under the 
United States, to be a member of the Senate or As¬ 
sembly of this state. That resolution could only 
bind thefiegislature which sanctioned it; its obligatory 
power did not extend to future legislatures. Had a 
law been enacted, embracing the same provision, it 
would, of course, have been operative upon all sub¬ 
sequent legislatures, until their wisdom had dictated 
its repeal. Our constitution declares, that the Senate 
and Assembly shall be the judges of their own mem¬ 
bers ; but it may well be doubted, whether either o 
the houses can create a qualification for a seat there¬ 
in, not recognised by the constitution : at any rate, 
it becomes highly important to our constituents, that 
the qualifications for holding a seat, should be expli- 


s 


citly defined; otherwise, they may be unexpectedly 
deprived of their representatives, to their great in¬ 
convenience and prejudice. 

Since the year 1792, this objection has not pre¬ 
vailed ; and it is an indisputable truth, that since that 
time, the established usage of the legislature has 
been to permit national officers, to hold seats in both 
branches; and it is equally true, that within the same 
period, his excellency has been a member for seve¬ 
ral years, and during a part of the time, was lieuten¬ 
ant-governor of the state, and presided over the ben- 
ate, in that capacity. 

The general reasoning which is urged, to show the 
impropriety of national officers holding seats in the 
state legislatures, would apply with equal force,to pro¬ 
hibit officers of the state governments, from holding 
seats in Congress. This exclusion, however,has nev¬ 
er been contended for ; and the common practice 
of this and of other states has been^ to elect state of¬ 
ficers to the national legislature. Several members 
of the last Congress, from this state, held prominent 
offices at the time of their election. Whether the 
officers of the U nited States, ought or ought not to 
hold seats in the state legislature, is not the impor¬ 
tant question; but whether, by accepting such offices, 
they forfeit any right, which they before enjoyed as 
citizens of the states respectively. The most suspicious 
states, have gone no further, than to debar national 
officei-s, from sitting in the legislature ; no restric¬ 
tion has ever been imposed, upon their right of suf¬ 
frage. Wholly to deny them this right would be 
palpably unconstitutional.—It is the most sacred pre¬ 
rogative inherited from our forefathers; and we 
must indignantly repel, any attempt to impair it.— 
No matter from what source it emanates; no matter 
how exalted its author, nor how lofty his pretensions 
to patriotism, we could not hesitate to pronounce it, 
the offspring of a heart inimical to the liberty, the 
prosperity, and the perpetuity of the republic. The 


9 


organization of the officers of the general govern^ 
merit, with views hostile to state independence and 
sovereignty, must also be deprecated, as an unwar¬ 
rantable procedure, meriting the most serious repre¬ 
hension. Against such an influence we should uni¬ 
tedly protest; and when necessity required, assume 
the responsibility of resisting its unhallowed intru¬ 
sion. But to exercise their right of suffrage, does 
not evince such an organization of the officers of the 
U nited States ; nor is the indiscreet zeal of some of 
them, to be urged as a proof of its existence. Indi¬ 
viduals may be violent, without being organized to 
subvert the foundations of state sovereignty; and 
such an indiscretion becomes the strongest evidence 
that no such organization exists. The approach of 
despotism, is not by boisterous invectives, or deep- 
toned recriminations ; but by silent and insidious 
advances—undermining first, then prostrating ; and 
if the general government had organized their offi¬ 
cers to war against this state, or any individual of if, 
the means would not have been employed, which 
have been indicated, as the evidence of such design. 
His Excellency observes, that the elective franchise 
should be exercised by national officers, “ in the gen¬ 
uine spirit of republicanism ; that the suffrages of 
the citizen should not he biassed by the emoluments and 
honors of the officer, and that he should not carry in¬ 
to the elections any of the influence derived from his 
official position*' This discrimination is not easily 
comprehended, and would seem to be impracticable. 
The constitution and laws recognize no distinction, 
between citizens who hold offices under the United 
States, and those who do not, in the mode of exercising 
the elective franchise. If they have the right to vote at 
our elections, may they not also express their opinions 
of the conduct of public men, and offer the reasons 
which induce them to prefer one candidate to anoth¬ 
er ? This right, the executive declares in his message, 
2 


10 


js possessed by every citizen; and claims the benefit 
of it himself. And it may further be asked, have 
they not the same right which other citizens enjoy, 
of inducing their companions, neighbors and friends, 
to co-operate with them, in all honorable measures, 
to promote the general welfare ? Or, are they merely 
to be permitted to deposit their ballots into the boxes, 
and then to retire ? This would be a proscription un¬ 
just, as well as unconstitutional; abridging the free¬ 
dom of action and of speech, and introducing dis¬ 
tinctions between our citizens, repugnant to our re¬ 
publican character. Is it possible to separate the in¬ 
fluence, which an individual w^ould possess, if he 
vrere not a national officer, from that wdiich he pos¬ 
sesses as such, in any sensible manner, so as to allow 
him to exercise his whole influence at the state elec¬ 
tions, in the first character, and excluding all wliich 
appertains to him, in the other capacity ? Certainly 
not; such a discrimination is theoretical and fanciful, 
not practicable. 

There is no alternative, but to refuse to the offi¬ 
cers of the general government all participation in 
the elective franchise ; or to sanction to them its full, 
free, and unrestricted exercise, in equal degree with 
' other citizens. It will not be pretended, that this 
state could constitutionally pass a law, restraining of¬ 
ficers of the United Stales, from the enjoyment of 
this privilege; neither has the general government 
the power to control them in this particular, or to 
prescribe the course which they are to pursue, in re¬ 
ference to state elections. This idea w ill be clearly 
illustrated by a single example. Suppose, that im¬ 
mediately preceding the last election, the general 
government had issued an order, prohibiting their of¬ 
ficers from interfering on that occasion, upon pain 
of removal; or, merely permitting them to give their 
silent votes. Who would not have pronounced such 
a measure, a violation of their rights, as citizens of 


il 


this state ? Who would have been foremost to de¬ 
nounce them for this “ unwarrantable obtrusion of 
extraneous influence, in the local concerns of the 
state ?” Such conduct would have merited and would 
have met, with the indignation of every friend to 
liberty. With what propriety then, has the execu¬ 
tive demanded the interposition of the national le¬ 
gislature, and insinuated that they were regardless of 
their duty upon this subject ? Any interference on 
the part of the general government, either to restrict 
or instruct their officers, would be equally unconsti¬ 
tutional and unjust. After the most deliberate reflec¬ 
tion, the committee are of opinion, that the officers 
of the general government are not in a state of dis¬ 
franchisement ; but that their rights, as citizens of the 
respective states, are neither forfeited nor diminished, 
so far as relates to the local concerns of each slate. 

The committee will now review, the exculpatory 
documents transmitted to them; premising, that all 
the evidence furnished by the executive, has been 
procured since his accusation was preferred; thus 
admitting, that he was not, at that time, in possession 
of a single fact, to justify his denunciation of the 
officers of the United States. The testimony thus 
offered, is not of a positive nature; and most of the 
individuals who have deposed, or certified to their 
statements, speak from presumption and hearsay, 
not from their own knowledge. 

The conduct of the officers at the navy-yard, in 
Kings county, is first coujplaincd of. It is alleged, 
that Col. Decatur, and other officers, brought up the 
persons in public employ to vote ; and that “ impro¬ 
per attempts were made, in a variety of shapes, to 
operate on the electors.” That Col. Decatur, and 
other officers attached to the navy-yard, were active 
at the last election, is not denyed by them. The 
substance of the charge as^ainst them, is, however, 
successfully rebutted by the certificate of the in- 


12 


specters of the election, who are gentlemen of ac» 
Ivnowledged respectability. They explicitly de¬ 
clare, that they saw nothing unlawful or dishonora¬ 
ble in the conduct of Col. Decatur, or of any of the 
officers of the general governinent; and that no il¬ 
legal votes were taken. Col. Decatur states in his 
affidavit, that from the nature of his situation, he 
lias no command or official influence, over the per¬ 
sons employed about the navy yard ; and, while he 
frankly avows his zeal at the last election, and the 
motives which actuated him, he disclaims all inter¬ 
ference on the part of the general government, or of 
any officer, dependent, or agent thereof. The affi¬ 
davit of George 8. Wise, jun. purser at the navy- 
yard, is of similar import; and the other documents 
relative to his conduct, are altogether satisfactory. 
By the affidavit of sailing-master Bloodgood, it ap¬ 
pears, that the quarrel alluded to, in one of the cer¬ 
tificates communicated by his excellency, was of a 
private and not of a political nature; and the influ¬ 
ence of any officer of the general government over 
him, is denied. The affidavit of Amos Dickinson, 
the master blacksmith, of Amos Cheney, master la¬ 
borer, and of .fames Cosgrove, gunner, exculpate Col. 
Decatur, and every other person, from the imputa¬ 
tion of influencing their conduct and shev\% that 
those individuals conceived, that they were exercis¬ 
ing nothing more than their undoubted rights as free 
citizens, at the last election. The certificates of 
doctor Hunt, and of the Rev. Mr. Ireland, are con¬ 
clusive, as to that part of the subject connected with 
their names; and must convince every man, that no 
undue influence could have operated upon gentle¬ 
men, entertaining that high sense of honor, which is 
their characterestic. The letter from Mr. Brock- 
hoist Livingston, jun. is in reply to a part of the cer¬ 
tificate of Mr. John Hunter, contained among the 
documents furnished by the governor, in which Mr. 


Livingston is untruly stated to be a custom-bouse of¬ 
ficer. This letter was addressed to a member of the 
Senate, before the reference of the message to the 
cominittee was known at Brooklyn, and is introduc¬ 
ed with the consent of the author. The c<uumiltee 
can discover no reason for supposing, that the gene¬ 
ral government interfered at all, in the election in 
Kings county ; nor that any organization of its of¬ 
ficers existed. No illegal votes were taken; no per-^ 
son was eompelled to vote, contrary to the dictate# 
of his own judgment; and the republican candidate 
who had represented the county, the preceding year, 
and was again supported for the assembly, failed in 
his election, the number of votes given for govern¬ 
or, was about the same as on former occasions; and 
their political complexion did not materially vary. 
The documents referred to, are marked “ Navyr 
Yard,” from Nos. 1, to 13, inclusive. 

The documents received from the surveyor of the 
port of New-York, completely exonorate him from 
all censure. The offence of this gentleman is, that 
he attended a meeting of the electors of the county, 
in which he resided, and was appointed one of a 
committee, to prepare resolutions for their consider¬ 
ation, which were afterwards reported and adopted, 
as the sense of the meeting* These resolutions ap¬ 
probate the conduct of the Vice-President, during 
the late war ; and severely animadvert upon the po¬ 
litical course of his excellency ; but it does not ap¬ 
pear that General Swift had any further agency in 
this transaction, than the other members of the com¬ 
mittee. The letter from General Swift states, that 
he did not even know the political sentiments of his 
own deputy, nor of his subordinate officers, whom 
he is accused of influencing. Many of the individ¬ 
uals attached to the customhouse, in New-York, 
who have subscribed the certificate marked “ Gus- 
tom-House, New-York,” No. 2, are warm adherents 


14 


f)f the Governor, and exerted themselves at the last 
election, in his support. The letter of Mr. Beek- 
man M. Van Buren, and also that of the deputy 
surveyor, Mr. Samuel Terry, both of whom are his 
avowed friends, furnish additional testimony of the 
injustice of the attack upon General Swift; and of 
the deep regret, with which those gentlemen had 
seen it made. The letters of Messrs. Innes, Darling 
and Wood, and the certificates of Messrs. Anderson 
and Gahagan, corroborate the others; and prove, 
how highly our citizens value the elective franchise, 
by their solemn protest against any encroachment up¬ 
on its lawful exercise. It is necessary to remark, 
that the individual by whose affidavit the conduct of 
the custom-house officers is impeached, was, at the 
lime, an inspector of leather, holding his office un¬ 
der the “ state administration.” The documents re¬ 
ferred to, are marked “Custom-House,New-York,” 
from No. 1 to No. 9, inclusive. 

The conduct of the two inspectors at Staten-Island, 
Messrs. Van Buren and Arnett, is adverted to, as 
connected with the department under the superinten¬ 
dence of General Swift. Those individuals have long 
been known as active republicans, at our elections. 
The certificate of the inspectors of the election, mark¬ 
ed “Custom-House, Staten-Island,” No. 1, exoner¬ 
ates them from the charge of improper conduct, and 
fixes it upon one of their accusers, whose outrageous 
and scandalous behaviour, caused the inspectors to 
feel some apprehension for the safety of the ballot- 
boxes, and the offender w^ould have been committed 
to prison, had the proper officer been present. The 
numerous affidavits accompanying this report, detail 
a state of facts relative to the certificates transmitted 
by his excellency, upon this part of the case, which 
must excite much mortification and disgust. Some 
of them were obtained from persons who could nei¬ 
ther read nor write; and who, being intoxicated at 


15 


the time, were induced to assent to what they have 
since confessed was false. With the standing of the 
persons who procured them, Messrs. Garrit Gilbert 
and Joshua Secor, the public are already sufficiently 
well acquainted. Every material fact contained in 
them, is disproved f the characters of those who have 
certified, are impeached, both morally and political¬ 
ly ; and the whole, in the opinion of the committee, 
exhibits an abortive effort to arouse jealousy and dis¬ 
content, withont any rational ground for excitement. 
That the Vice-President should be assailed by such 
men, is no reproach ; but the attempt to fasten upon 
him the crime of executing a deed for property, by 
way of present, and for the purpose of procuring 
the votes of electors in his favor, is not merely cha¬ 
racteristic of the persecution which has been levelled 
against him, but manifests a greater degree of malig¬ 
nity, than could well have been imagined. The do¬ 
cuments relative to the election on Staten-Island, are 
headed “ Custom-House, Staten-Island,” from No. 1 
to No. 12, inclusive. 

“The resolution of the citizens of Buffalo,” im¬ 
plicating the persons who are attached to the com¬ 
mission for establishing the boundary line between 
the United States and Canada, would appear to have 
been prepared, solely to confirm the charge previoushj 
made by the executive. It was passed a month sub¬ 
sequently to the speech of his excellency, and near¬ 
ly eight months after the election to which it refers. 
It is scarcely dealing fairly with our common sense, 
to offer this resolution as a proof to substantiate an 
accusation, made long before its adoption. This ex¬ 
traordinary paper is couched in language nearly simi¬ 
lar to that employed by the executive in his speech, 
and sounds like its very echo. The officers ()f the 
general government, are, in both, denominated a 
“ corps'^ regularly “ organised'' to control and coerce 
the votes of electors. The meeting consisted of some 


36 


ten or twelve persons; the chairman, (Mr. John E. 
Marshall) held an office under his excellency’s ad¬ 
ministration; and Oliver Forward, Esquire, (^ollec- 
tor of the customs, for the port of Buffalo, at the 
same time a Senator of this state, drew up or pre¬ 
sented this, with other resolutions, which were a- 
dopted by the meeting. The other resolutions allud¬ 
ed to, are annexed to this repoit, to show how little 
respect, this assemblage of ten or twelve 
were disposed to pay to the legislative branch of the 
government, however obsequious they may have 
been to the executive branch. The letters and af¬ 
fidavits referred to, are mai ked “ Resolutions of the 
citizens of Buffalo,” from No. 1 to No. 4, inclusive. 

The conduct of the J udge of the United States, for 
the northern district of this state, and of the District 
Attornies for the northern and southern districts, 
is next adverted to. With respect to Judge Skin¬ 
ner, it is only necessary to remark, that he was ele¬ 
vated to the bench, subsequently to his election to 
the Senate, where he now holds his seat, by the 
voice of the people and the sanction of the consti¬ 
tution. He is independent of the general govern¬ 
ment, for the tenure of his judicial station; and 
above the suspicion of violating his allegiance to 
this state, under any circumstances. 

The committee cannot suppress their belief, that 
the clamour raised upon this subject, has been 
made to subserve other interests than those of the 
state, when they reflect, that notwithstanding how 
much has been said and written in relation to it, no 
attempt has to this day been made, to test the right 
of Judge Skinner to his seat. Either the Senate 
are unanimously of opinion, that the objections 
which have been taken are unfounded, or they have 
been greatly wanting in the discharge of their duty 
to the people. 


17 


Tiie certificate of Israel Ketcham, marked X, of 
the documents communicated by the governor, is 
proved to be incorrect in all its parts, by the affida¬ 
vits of Robert Tillotson, Esq. and of Mr. William 
Eaton, and the certificate of Major Samuel Cooper. 
The statement of Mr. Ketcham, is too improbable 
to be credited, independent of all contradictory 
evidence. He certifies, that Mr. Eaton declared, 
that he was in Mr. Tillotsoii’s office in April last; 
and there heard Mr. Tillotson direct a gentleman 
to go to certain persons in the western district, and 
promise them any offices they wanted in that quar¬ 
ter, in the gift of the general government. Is it by 
certificates of this loose nature, that the existence 
of an ‘ organized and disciplined corps’ of nation¬ 
al officers, is to be substantiated ? Will the people 
tolerate such an attempt, to enlist their prejudices 
against the government of the Union ? The story, 

“ that two men had been sent from Washington last 
‘‘ spring, to oppose the re-election of De Witt Clin- 
‘Vton, whose expenses were paid at Washington,” 
is equally incredible; and Major Cooper, who is 
designated by Mr. Ketcham, as the author of the 
statement to him, declares “ the whole to be a base 
fabrication^ absolutely false^ and without the least sha^ 
dow of foundation^ The documents referred to, 
are marked from No. 1 to No. 4, inclusive. 

A perusal of the letter from Jacob Sutherland 
Esq. and the documents therein referred to, mark¬ 
ed ‘‘ District Attorney, for the northern district,” 
Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, will show, that the charge 
against that gentleman was unfounded. Indeed, 
the allegation is not only an impeachment of his 
moral integrity, but if true, would have subjected 
him to a heavy penalty under our laws, and disqual¬ 
ified him from holding any office within this state ; 
and it is therefore not surprisitig, that he should 
have felt indignant at the effort made by the chief 
3 


18 


magistrate of the state, to fix upon him so foul an 
imputation. The person, whose affidavit contain¬ 
ed the aspersion, (R. W. Rulifson) is a boy of eighteen 
years of age^ who, either ignorantly or malevolently 
represented as general opinion, the idle conversa¬ 
tion of a few individuals, whom he refused to 
name. Mr. Sutherland does not deny his earnest 
solicitude, for the success of the republican can¬ 
didates, at the last election; but protests against 
the doctrine, that his rights as a citizen, are forfeit¬ 
ed or impaired by his holding a commission under 
the United States. 

The official conduct of the post-master-general, 
furnishes a prominent topic of complaint, in the 
communication of his excellency; and one, upon 
which the greatest reliance is placed by .him, in 
his attempt to implicate the administration of the 
general government. The substance of his excel¬ 
lency’s charge, upon this subject, is, that the post¬ 
master-general, previous, and preparatory to the 
last election of governor in this state, removed se¬ 
veral deputy post-masters, because they were the po^ 
litical friends of the executive^ and with a view to deter 
others from his support. This conduct of the post- 
master-general, is pressed with much warmth, by 
his excellency, as furnishing, when added to the 
charges insinuated against the President, the Se- 
.cretaries of State, of the Treasury, and of the Na¬ 
vy, the most satisfactory evidence, that the Presi¬ 
dent, and the heads of all the departments of the 
general government, save one, were engaged in an 
organized conspiracy, against the freedom and pu¬ 
rity of our elections. To increase the odium of 
that officer’s conduct, his excellency has seen fit, 
to contrast it w'ith that of his predecessor, and to 
indulge in the unqualified assertion, that “durino” 
« the able and impartial administration of the pre- 
decessor of the present post-master-general, those 


19 


offices were conferred without any reference to state po- 

iiticsP 

From the documents communicated to the com¬ 
mittee, they are well satisfied, not only that the 
complaints of his excellency are wholly unfound¬ 
ed, but that there is good reason to question the 
correctness of his remark, in relation to the con¬ 
duct of the former post-master-general. While, 
however, the committee feel it their duty to lay be¬ 
fore the Legislature the evidence, to disprove the 
allegations of the governor, in this particular, they 
desire not to be considered as admitting that the 
conduct of the post-master-general would have 
been subject to just censure,, if he had made the 
selections for those appointments, from among the 
republican citizens of this state, who are not in¬ 
cluded in his excellency’s denomination of “ friends 
of the state administration.” For, although the 
committee are not the advocates of political in¬ 
tolerance, or of injustice of any kind, they can 
neither stifle nor abandon the conviction, that a just 
and patriotic administration ought to confer its fa¬ 
vours on those, who, at periods of great public 
embarrassment, as well as of national peril, have 
sustained and supported the government, in pre¬ 
ference to those who are, and have been incessant 
in their labours, to stigmatise its motives, and frus¬ 
trate its efforts in the public cause. In this state, 
at least, and in this particular, this course, which 
is dictated by justice, and would be consecrated 
by patriotism, the committee regret to be obliged 
to say, has not been pursued. 

The post-masters, whose removals are complain¬ 
ed of, are Halsey Rogers, Levi McKeen, Alpheus 
Doty, Stephen B. Leonard, Samuel Smith, Slade 
D. Brown, Hezekiah L. Granger, Nathan Cham¬ 
berlain, and David Holt. 

The documents marked “ Post-Oifice,” from No 
1 to No. 14, relate to this subject 


20 


No. 1, shows that the post-master-general was 
not actuated by the motives attributed to him. 

No. 2, that Halsey Rogers was removed, at the 
instance of the two members of Congress, repre¬ 
senting the district in which he resides, (one of 
them, Mr. Gross, an avowed and distinguished po¬ 
litical friend of the executive,) on the ground that 
‘‘ the people had lost all confidence in him^ as a public 
officer^ 

No, 3, is a letter from Mr. Schuyler, the mem¬ 
ber of Congress from the district in which Mr. Mc- 
Keen resides, stating the grounds on which his re¬ 
moval was asked. In addition to this letter, a 
great number of letters, affidavits, and other do¬ 
cuments, being the papers on which this removal 
was made, have been laid before the committee, 
which incontestibly show, that the removal of Mr. 
McKeen, and the appointment of Mr. Van Ness, 
were called for by all parties, and on grounds 
wholly disconnected with politics. The great 
length of the documents, has prevented their be¬ 
ing incorporated with this report, and they are 
therefore filed with the clerk of the assembly. 

Nos. 4, 5, and 6, show the grounds on which 
Messrs. Doty, Smith, and Brown, were removed, 
and that they were not political. It is conceded 
by the message of his excellency, that the alleged 
reasons for the removals of Messrs. Holt, Leonard, 
and Chamberlain, were other than political; and 
the committee are persuaded that the reasons as¬ 
signed by the post-master-general, are those by 
which he was actuated. 

No. 7, is submitted to show, that the application 
for the removal of Mr. Chamberlain, originated 
with the representatives from the county in which 
he resided. 

The papers. No. 8, 9, 10, and 11, will enable the 
Legislature to estimate the justice of the attempt 


21 


on the part ot his excellency, to implicate the con^ 
duct of the present post-master-general, by con¬ 
trasting it with that of his predecessor. These 
documents shew, that the very gentleman (Mr. Mo- 
nell) who first called on the post-master-general, 
on the subject of the recent removals in this state, 
and who has been among the most vehement in de¬ 
nouncing those measures, received the appoint¬ 
ment of post-master from the late post-master-ge¬ 
neral, upon a removal^ ont of the avowed causes of 
which^ was, that the former incumbent, Mr. Woodruff, 
had supported Morgan Lewis, for the office of governor 
of this state. But this is not all. They further shew 
that the abuses of the post-office department, in 
this state, have been for years, a subject of com¬ 
plaint; and that blank commissions or warrants 
were entrusted to his excellency the present go¬ 
vernor, and the present chief justice, by the late 
post-master-general, leaving the selection of the 
officer to their discretion. How far that discretion 
was expected to be influenced by political considerations, 
the cotemporaneous letter of the chief justice, and the 
known political course and temper of the gentlemen by 
whom it was to be exercised, cannot fail to indicate. 

Nos. 12, 1,3, and 14, explain the transaction, in 
relation to which the conduct of Mr. Borland is 
censured. The whole affair is, in the opinion of 
the committee, too trifling and irrelevant to require 
one single remark. 

The certificate and affidavits, marked A, B, C, D, 
and E, relate to the reception given to the Vice- 
President, last spring, upon his arrival at New- 
York from this city. This appears to have been 
projected and conducted by mititia oficers,^^ who 
having formerly served under him, felt anxious to 
exhibit a mark of their entire confidence in his in¬ 
tegrity and patriotism, notwithstanding the obloquy 
which had been heaped upon him. This tribute 


of respect, paid to th6 Vice-President by the mili¬ 
tia officers^ was nothing more than a voluntary testi¬ 
monial of gratitude for public services; the offi¬ 
cers of the general government had no considera¬ 
ble participation in the arrangement; and an inde¬ 
scribable obliquity of perception alone, could have 
discovered in it, the manifestation of a design to 
corrupt the purity, or to prostrate the indepen¬ 
dence of state government. 

The declarations attributed to Dr. John H. Sack- 
ett, are positively denied in his letter, marked F; 
and the certihcate of Lieut. W. D. Agur, marked 
G, corroborates such denial. Admitting, however, 
that Dr. Sackett had used the expression ascribed 
to him, it may be asked, is a declaration made at a 
breakfast table, in a public boarding-house, seri¬ 
ously considered by his excellency, as proof of the 
organization of the officers of the general govern¬ 
ment, “ to break down the power of the state 

The committee lament, that loose and inadver- 
tant observations, are thus treasured up by the ex¬ 
ecutive, inasmuch as it furnishes some ground for 
the belief, that a system of espionage is in opera¬ 
tion, and that the movements of our citizens are 
watched, and their words marked down to their 
prejudice; a system, inconsistent with the spirit of 
our free institutions, and subversive of all indepen¬ 
dence of action, and of the freedom of speech; a 
system which must inhibit social intercourse, and 
excite animosities, fatal alike to our moral happi¬ 
ness and political prosperity. 

Upon a careful examination of the documents 
thus recapitulated, the committee feel confident, 
that the conviction of every mind must be, that the 
charge made by his excellency against the general 
administration and their officers in this state, has 
not been substantiated, and is wholly unfounded. 
The committee must express their unfeigned re- 


23 


gret, that his excellency had not deemed it consi^-' 
tent with his ideas of respect for the general govern¬ 
ment, to have solicited an enquiry into the subject 
of his accusation, before a positive charge had 
been prefered. The agitation of the public mind, 
and of the national legislature, relative to the ad¬ 
mission of Missouri into the union, and the then 
approaching presidential election might, and in the 
opinion of the committee, ought to have indicated 
to his excellency, that the time which he selected 
to arraign the conduct of the national administra¬ 
tion and of its officers, was peculiarly inauspicious. 

The frequency with which attempts to excite 
similar alarms, have been made, .from the same 
quarter, has proved highly prejudicial to the cha¬ 
racter of our state, and has sullied her dignity.— 
Her influence in the union has been checked; her 
prosperity at home diminished; the tranquility of 
her citizens disturbed; and the most bitter political 
animosities engendered. So often the theatre on 
which hostility to the general government has been 
displayed, this state has, in a measure, lost the con¬ 
fidence of the wise and good men of other states; 
and we regret to say, is too much regarded as the 
focus of intrigue, around which the discontented of 
all parties rally, and raise the standard of disaffec¬ 
tion. Her wealth, her resources, her public spirit, 
and her patriotism,entitleNew-Yorktoadistinguish- 
ed rank in the nation, and demand that the policy 
which has hitherto impeded her merited elevation, 
should be abandoned, and a more liberal and en¬ 
lightened course pursued ; a course which shall be 
characterised by magnanimous and manly feeling, 
ingenuous towards the national administration, re¬ 
spectful to our sister states, and honorable to our¬ 
selves. Nothing can be gained, but every thing is 
hazarded, by a policy which tends to excite dis¬ 
cord and discontent between the general and state 


24 


governments; and the peculiar organization of our 
republic, renders harmony between them, indispen- 
sable to their permanency. Mutual dependence, 
ought to ensure mutual confidence; unfounded 
jealousies beget recrimination, and ought never to 
be indulged. This confidence between the general 
and state governments, being once destroyed, and 
these jealousies once aroused, who can anticipate, 
without serious apprehensions, the consequences 
which must ensue. Then, indeed, would the as¬ 
pirations of ambition,” have full scope, the fair fa¬ 
bric of our liberties be prostrated, and the mages- 
ty of the people humbled, before the sceptre of 
some successful tyrant. If the hope expressed by 
his excellency, that ‘‘ impartial posterity” will ap¬ 
plaud him for his “ conduct on this occasion,” can 
afford him any consolation, the committee feel no 
wish to dispel the flattering illusion; but they can¬ 
not refrain from expressing their entire conviction, 
that from the just censure of the present genera¬ 
tion, he cannot escape. 

The committee offer, for the consideration of the 
Legislature, the following resolution: 

Resolved^ (if the honorable the Senate concur 
herein,) That the accusation made by his excel¬ 
lency the governor, against the officers of the ge¬ 
neral government, charging them with interfering, 
as an “ organized and disciplined corps^^^ in our elec¬ 
tions, and of violating the '^purity and independence 
of our local government f has not been substantiated, 
and is wholly unfounded. 

All which is respectfully submitted. 

By order of the joint committee. 
SAMUEL B. ROMAINE, Chairman. 


DOCUMENTS 

^ilceompaiv^ing loxegoing T!le^oi!t, 


NAVY YARD. 

No. 1. 

We certify, that we were inspectors of the election, held iu 
the town of Brooklyn, in Kings county, on the 25th, 26th, and 
27th days of last April, that we saw CoL John P. Decatur, at 
the poll every day of said election, and that we saw nothing un¬ 
lawful, or dishonorable in his conduct, or in the conduct* of any 
ofthe officers of the general government, at said election. And 
we further certify, that to our knowledge, no persons were un¬ 
lawfully polled by us, at said election. 

Jerem. Johnson, Supervisor. 

John Ryerson, Jr. 

John Doughty, Town Clerk, 

Jordan Coles, Jr. 

Joseph Mosery, Inspector. 

Daniel Lott, Inspector. 

No. 2. 

County of Kings., ss .-—John P Decatur, naval store keeper, 
s>tationed at the navy yard, Brooklyn, county of Kings, being 
duly sworn, says, that at the last spring election of Governor, 
Lieut. Gov. See. this deponent opposed the election of De Witt 
Clinton, Esquire ; thatdeponent was zealous and active in such 
opposition, and exerted his personal influence to defeat the 
views of Mr. Clinton’s freinds, who in return, did the same to¬ 
wards their opposing caiididate; that deponent, from the nature 
of his office and employment, has not and cannot have any com¬ 
mand over, or even official influence upon the caulkers, riggers, 
shift carfienters, blacksmiths. See. employed in and about the navy- 
yard, as will be more clearly manifested, by refering to the ar¬ 
ticles, rules and regulations, for the better government of the 
navy, which are as follows—“ The duty of the naval store keep¬ 
er is, that he shall take charge of all stores, provisions, and mu¬ 
nitions of war, and all stores, houses, and timber sheds, shall be 
under his charge, and he shall examine and receipt all acounts 
rendered for purchases.” 

And the said Decatur further says, that he was not influenc¬ 
ed in his conduct at said election, by the general government of 
the United States, or by any officer, dependant, or agent thereof, 
or by any person or persons whatever, but that he followed the 
dictates of his heart, arising from his convictiou, that Mr. Clin- 
4 


26 


ton was unworthy the eufifiort of the republican party. And th® 
said Decatur furthur says, that he never heard or understood 
that the general government of the United States, interfered in 
the state elections, or that there was an “ organized corps*’ of 
officers of said general government, acting or influencing, or in¬ 
terfering, in the election of officers of the state government, un¬ 
til so informed last fall, by a message from his excellency gov¬ 
ernor Clinton, to the legislature of this state, and which is the 
only authority the said Decatur is acquainted with, relative to 
that circumstance; but that as far as is meant or intended by cer¬ 
tain documents lately furnished by his excellency governor 
Clinton, to include said Decatnr in the above mentioned corpgy 
such documents are untrue ; and that with regard to the Rev. 
Mr. Ireland, Mr. Hunt, Purser Wise, and Sailing Master Blood- 
good, nothing passed to or from the said John P. Decatur, more 
or otherwise than is usual between friends, during elections, and 
with which the general government has nothing to do. And 
furthur this deponent saith not. JOHN P. DECATUR. 

Sworn before me, at Brooklyn, Kings 
county, the 13th day of Feb. 1821. 

Isaac JVichols, justice of the peace. 

No. S. 

City of Kew~York. ss .—Abraham B. Bloodgood, of the towi» 
of Brooklyn, being duly sworn, says, that the dispute which oc¬ 
curred at the last spring election, held for Governor, Lt. Gover¬ 
nor, See. between myself and Harvey Patcham, was of a private 
nature (and not as has been represented in a certificate hereto¬ 
fore published, of a political) nature. And I do further swear 
and declare, that I was not biassed or influenced by any officer 
of the general government, during the said election. 

Ab. B. BLOODGOOD. 

Sworn before me, the 12th day 
of Feb. 1821. 

Police-Office— Christian^ Jus. Peace. 

No. 4. 

I do hereby make known, that at the late election for Gover¬ 
nor, for the state of New-York, I was neither influenced nor 
threatened by Col. John P, Decatur, or any other person, re¬ 
specting my vote j that the respectable naval officers on this sta¬ 
tion, are too much of the gentlemen, and true American, to 
make use of their power on such occasions. That I enjoy my 
freedom and independence—have, and always will vote agreea¬ 
ble to my own feelings. That the affidavits accompanying th« 
Governor’s message, are erroneous, as respects myself. 

_ AMOS DICKINSON, 

Navy-Yard, New-York, Feb. 2, 1821. 


27 


Kings County^ Amos Dickinson, personally appeared be¬ 
fore me, and being sworn, deposeth and saith, that the above 
statement is just and true. Sworn before me at Brooklyn, the 
3d day of Feb. 1821. ISAAC NICHOLS, Jus. Peace. 

No. 5. 

I do hereby certify, that at the late election for Governor of 
the state of New-York, I was neither influenced or threatened 
by Col. John P. Decatur, or any other person, respecting my 
vote ; that the respectable naval ofiicers on this station are too 
rnuch of gentlemen to make use of undue means on such occa¬ 
sions—I have always enjoyed my liberty in voting as I pleased, 
and always will. The affidavits accompanying the Governor** 
message are erroneous, as respects myself. 

AMSOS CHENY. 

Sworn to before me, this 3d day of Feb. 1821. 

Gabriel Winter^ Commissioner^ isfc. 

City ofJVev)- York. 

No. 6. 

This is to certify, that on the last election for Governor, &c. 
for the state of New-York, that I was in no respect bribed, or 
forced to vote against De Witt Clinton, by any officer in the na¬ 
vy-yard. JAMES COSGROVE, 

Gunner of the United States Navy-Yard, N. Y. 
The above sworn to before me, at Brooklyn, 
this 2d day of February, 1821. 

Isaac KichoU^ Justice oj the Peace. 

No. 7. 

Whereas it has been represented to me, that I stand charged 
with having, on a late occasion, been induced, by persuasion of 
Col. Decatur, and the officers of the U. States* government, on 
this station, to vote contrary to my own inclination, and in a man¬ 
ner prescribed by them—This is to certify, and I hereby so¬ 
lemnly aver, that neither Col. Decatur, nor any other officer of 
the general government, influenced me in my vote on the late 
election for governor, lieut. governor, &c. &c. 

J. G. F. HUNT, Surgeon U. S. Jtavy. 

No. 8. 

Whereas it has been represented to me, that I stand charged 
with having, on a late occasion, been induced, by the threats of 
Col. John P. Decatur, to vote contrary to my own inclination, 
and in a manner prescribed by himself—This is to certify, and 
I hereby solemnly aver, that neither Col. Decatur, nor any oth¬ 
er man, ever presumed to hold towards me the language of in¬ 
timidation. My circumstances, my age, my profession, my 
character, render it impossible that I should have submitted, 
without a proper degree of resentment, to so gross an oiitrag# 
an my conscience and feelings. 


1 readily admit, that Col. D. is one of my personal friends, 
and that I am friendly to the present administration of the gen¬ 
eral government; but I deny, that I am in the habit of allowing 
myself to be addressed,/rom any quarter^ in a style of dictation, 
or intimidation. As an independent freeholder of this state, I 
have hitherto maintained, and ever will, fearlessly maintain my 
right to vote, as my own conscience and inclination may sug¬ 
gest. JOHN IRELAND, Chaplain U. S, Navy. 

Brooklyn, Kings county, 9th Feb. 1821. 

No. 9. 

Brooklyn., Peh. 1821. 

Peter R. Livingston, Esq. 

Sir —Having observed my name introduced amongst ‘‘ the 
organized corps of the general government,’ by Mr. Clinton, 
in his late communication to your honorable body, I am induc¬ 
ed, from a false representation furnished the Governor, to make 
this communication ; not in vindication of the part I took dur¬ 
ing the election, but in consequence of a publication of my ex¬ 
pressions on that occasion. 

By the certificate of Mr. Hunter, I am enumerated among 
the custom-house officers. This, sir, is false; I never have 
been a custom-house officer.—-Mr. Hunter also quotes me as 
having observed, that Mr. Clinton was unfriendly to the general 
government. This I repeat; and that Mr. Clinton was un¬ 
friendly to the general government, I still believe. During the 
late war, a representation was made, by two respectable citizens 
of this state, to Mr. Clinton, as mayor of the city of New-York, 
that two men, Mr. Nostrand and Mr. Swinburne, had left Brook¬ 
lyn ferry, with dispatches for the British squadron, at the Hook, 
prior to the sailing of the squadron under command of Commo¬ 
dore Rodgers. Mr. Clinton, on the representation, appeared 
much enraged, and promised that these men should be closely 
watched, and taken, on their return. But sir, here the matter 
ended; and these men boasted, and now boast that they did bear 
dispatches, and were well paid for it. This is not hear-say evi¬ 
dence alone. There are among the number of Mr. Clinton’s 
friends here, many, aware of this circumstance. 

In a free country; in a country like this, the greatest prero¬ 
gative of a free people is, to express their sentiments of public 
men and public measures. In addition to this, I considered that 
my influence, [if any 1 had] ought to be directed against the 
man, who, in the time of war, was ‘‘ sighing for the golden days 
of commercial prosperity.” That Mr. Clinton did so, he can¬ 
not deny. 

I am a republican; and Mr. Clinton may rest assured, whe¬ 
ther a custom-house officer or not, I shall, at any and eveiy elec- 


29 


tioii hereafter, come forwartl against him, with redoubled vigor; 
and so far as my influence will extend, I shall always consider 
it my duty, as a republican, to exert that influence against his 
Excellency, and his corps of Swiss office hunters. 

You are at liberty to make use of the facts herein stated, if you 
think proper. Very respectfully, 

I am your ob’t. serv’t. 
BROCKHOLST LIVINGSTON, Jix 
I shall address you more fully, in the course of a few days. 

B. L. Jr. 


No. 10. 


State of JVew-Forjf, Kings County^ ss. 

George S. Wise, jr. a purser in the United States navy, sta¬ 
tioned at the navy-yard, Brooklyn, L. I. being duly sworn, doth 
depose and say, that he attended the election held in said town, 
for governor, lieut. governor, he. in the springof the year 1820; 
and that being averse to Governor Clinton’s political course, 
this deponent did, at said election, use all honorable and legal 
means in his power, to oppose Gov. Clinton’s re-election ; that 
deponent was, moreover, swayed by political and personal at¬ 
tachment to the Vice-President, to promote his success. 

That deponent, as a citizen of a free government, believes he 
has the right guaranteed to him by the constitution and laws of 
his country, to express his opinion of his governors, at the elec¬ 
tions, by his vote, and by all honorable and legal means to ad¬ 
vance the interest of his favorite candidate; under which belief 
this deponent has done so. 

That deponent, from the nature of his office, has not, and 
cannot have any command whatever over the ship carpenters, 
caulkers, block-makers, joiners,blacksmiths,or other workmen 
employed in the navy-yard; nor has he ever influenced or at¬ 
tempted to influence any of them in their vote at the last spring 
election, by threats or promises. 

That deponent never was influenced, in any manner., in his 
political conduct, by the interference of the general government 
of the United States, or any of its officers ; nor has he ever 
heard or otherwise understood, that any officer had been so in¬ 
fluenced. That deponent never knew, suspected, or believed, 
the said general government had a corps of its officers, or of any 
other persons, organized, to influence, sway, or otherwise inter¬ 
fere in the elections, in this or any other state in the union,until 
so informed by a certain message of Governor Clinton, to the 
legislature of this state, upon which point deponent is satisfied 
his excellency the governor has been imposed upon. And de¬ 
ponent furthur says, that all he did at tlie last or any other elec¬ 
tion, was done by him in his individual capacity, without reffir- 
ence to any higher or other authority or object. 

GEO. S. WISE, Jr. 


30 


Sworn lo this twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of 
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, before 
»ne, William Furman^ Judge. 

No. 11. 

We, the undersigned, inhabitants and freeholders in the town 
of Brooklyn, Long-Island, and state of New-York, do most 
solemnly declare, that we were at the poll, at different times, 
during last spring election for Governor, Lieut. Governor, 8cc. 
where we saw Mr. George S. Wise, Jr. purser of the navy-yard; 
that as far as his conduct at the poll came within our observar 
tion and knowledge, it was honorable as an officer and a gen¬ 
tleman ; that although he evinced an anxious zeal to promote 
the election of bis favorite candidate, yet we did not discover 
any act on his part, to bias or influence, by improper or illegal 
means, the vote of any individual at the poll And we further 
declare, as our opinion and belief, that the said George S. Wise, 
Jr. was not actuated or influenced by any other motive than that 
of a conscientious exercise of those rights which the laws and 
constitution of his country had granted to him. 

Brooklyn^ L. 1 Feb. 1821. 

William R. Dean, 

John Dean, 

Alex. Robinson, 

Brockholst Livingston. Jr. 

Abr. Young, 

Aime J. Barbarin, 

William Henry. 

Joseph Herbert, 

Wm. Philip, 

Burdet Stryker, 

Daniel Wright, 

Evert Barkeloe, 

G. W. Statesley, 

Stephen S. Voris, 

John Laurence, 

No. 13. 

At the last election for governor, lieutenant governor, See. I 
was an inspector at the poll. I declare, that the conduct of 
George S. Wise, jun. purser of the navy-yard, was correct and 
honorable—that he attended no one at the poll box, whose vote 
was not legal and accepted—that to the best of my knowledge 
and belief, he did not attempt to bias or influence, by undue 
means, the vote of any individual. And it is further my opinion 
and belief, he was actuated by no other motives than those of 
exercising the right, wdiich the laws of his country, and itis 
constitution guaranteed him. 


James Titus, 

Ryke Reed, 

John G, Murphy, 
Calvin Morehouse, 
Edward Coope, 
Uriah Ryder, 

Jacob M. Cooper, 
John B. Bedell, 
Thomas Burroghs, 
George Hariland, 
Gabriel Leverich, 
Nicholas Vanduync, 
Martin Schenck, 
John Seaman. 


51 


Signed this nineteenth day of February, in the year of our 
Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one. 

JOSEPH MOSERY. 

No. 13. 

Kings County^ State of J\renv-York.~—'SVi\\\ 2 Lm A. Sale, mas¬ 
ter mason, residing in the village of Brooklyn, being duly 
sworn, saith, that he has been acquainted with George S. Wise, 
jun. Esq. for the last two years ; that during that time, this de¬ 
ponent has more or less been employed as a mason in his ser¬ 
vice ; that during the time antecedent to the late election for 
governor, lieutenant governor, &c. of the state of New-York, 
that said George S. Wise, jun. Esq. did not attempt to influ¬ 
ence him and those in his employ—that to the best of his obser¬ 
vation and belief, neither said George S. Wise, nor any other of¬ 
ficer attached to the navy-yard, used any improper or dishon¬ 
orable means to influence the votes of any individual employed 
in the yard—This deponent further saith, he had frequent op¬ 
portunities of hearing the opinion of the mechanics and others 
employed in the navy-yard, and from the best of his recollec¬ 
tion, knowledge and belief, that none of them expressed ari 
opinion, that George S. Wise, jr, or any other officer, attached 
to the navy-yard, attempted to influence them, by improper or 
illegal means, or by threats or promises. This deponent fur¬ 
ther saith, that the conduct of George S. Wise, was honorable 
and unexceptionable, at the poll—And that this deponent fur¬ 
ther saith, as his belief, that said George S. Wise, jr. was ac¬ 
tuated by no other motive than a conscientious exercise of those 
rights and privileges, which the laws and constitution of his 
country had permitted him to exercise. 

WILLIAM A. SALE. 

Taken and sworn to, before me, at Brooklyn, the 24th day of 
February, J821. Imac Nichols, justice of the peace. 

CUSTOM-HOUSE, NEW-YORK. 

No. 1. 

New-York, Ist Feb. 1821 , 

To Samuel B. Romaine, Esq. 

Chairman of the Committee upon the Governor's Message. 

Sir —Your letter of the 25th ult. has been duly received, and 
I have now the honor to reply to the govenor’s attack against me. 

In relation to my political conduct, I have exercised the 
right which the governor admits in his message, to be the right 
of every citizen, that of expressing my opinion of the conduct of 
public men ; I have deemed the governor's political conduct to 
be unwise and incorrect, and therefore discharged the right of a 
citizen and a freeholder, by opposing his election. 


I never knew nor heard of any organized or disciplined corps, 
formed by, or acting under the countenance of the general go¬ 
vernment, nor of its officers, nor of any other persons ‘‘ ad¬ 
vancing against this state^ with its combined and concentrated 
forces* until the governor asserted it in his message ; and to the 
best of my knowledge and belief, none such has ever existed. 

In relation to the custom-liouse officers, I have never, in an 
individual instance, used any species of influence over their po- 
litica! sentiments or conduct; they have never by me nor by my 
consent, been ‘''-intimidated into neutrality^'* wov have they had any 
cause to apprehend personal injury from the desperation of de¬ 
tected malt factors ;** but on the contrary, they have been pro¬ 
perly left, to act agreeably to their own wills and judgments. 
Their political sentiments have been indifferent and unknown to 
me, until within a few days since, Avhen 1 learned that a large 
number of them were the politicaiyWcwr/s of the governor, and 
that they had voted accordingly at the last election, as they had 
a right to do, and that, without “ looking to a particular quarter 
for favors." 

The most important and valuable office in my gift (my depu¬ 
ty} was conferred upon the governor’s political friend, whose 
sentiments I never knew until last week. This simple fact, is, 
in itself, a severe comment upon the governor’s attack against 
me, and a more severe comment upon his own political course. 

The governor infers, that I had ascertained the ‘‘ sense of my 
political superior, and had been instructed to act accordingly"-^— 
The whole of this inference and insinuation, is an unfounded 
suspicion, whether the governor alludes to the President, to 
my official superiors, or to any other person. 

I enclose, herewith, documents from the deputy surveyor, 
the inspectors. See. which will show that I have not deserved 
the epithets and insinuations which the governor has bestowed 
upon me. 

The govereor has entrenched himself behind his own admis¬ 
sions, that a “ considerable portion of his allegations may be re¬ 
futed" and behind his assertions that a “ sufficient number will 
remain to prove the existence of an organized and disciplined 
corps of officers of the general gov eminent.," Notwithstand¬ 
ing these, his maze of assertiohs, doubts, suspicions, and in¬ 
sinuations, every intelligent man in the United States, who 
may peruse them, will believe them to be unfounded charges ; 
through which, however, is plainly to be seen the real object 
of the message, to wit, to excite dissention between the con¬ 
federated union and particular states. 

I am your respectful hum’bl. servt. 

J. G. SWIFT 


No. 2. 


JVevj-York^ January 2 1821. 

Gen. J, G. Swift, 

Surveyor of the port of JVew-York^ 

Sir —Ill perusing the late message of Gov. Clinton, to the 
legislature of this state, we observe with astonishment, a most 
unwarrantable and egregious attack upon those who compose 
that section of the custom-house department which comes un¬ 
der your particular direction ; and an attempt to impose upon 
the public, an opinion highly injurious to the unblemished repu¬ 
tation which is so justly attached to your name. 

With a view, therefore, to counteract a^iy unfavorable im¬ 
pressions, which the allegations in this very singular document 
may produce upon the public mind, and feeling that we are not 
that abject set of wretches, who are to be made the tools of par¬ 
ty, or will submit in silence, to an unprovoked insult; we have 
thought proper to execute, and present to you, the following 
certificate, with a request, that with this communication, it 
might be laid before the public, at such time, and in such man¬ 
ner, as you may think proper. 


CERTIFICATE. 

We the undersigned inspectors, weighers, guagers, mea¬ 
surers, &c. attached to the department of customs over which 
Gen. Joseph G. Swift has the honor to preside, (us surveyor of 
the port and district of New-York) do hereby certify, and so¬ 
lemnly declare, that we never conversed with, or heard him ex¬ 
press an opinion upon any political subject whatevcr,and should 
have been, to this day, entirely ignorant of his political princi¬ 
ples, but from observations of his conduct, while acting in con¬ 
cert with others on public occasions. An4 that our suffrages 
were given at the late election, uninfluenced by our relative si¬ 
tuations, or the control of any person or power whatever. 

In testimony whereof, we have signed our respective names, 
this 26th day of January, 1821. 

Ben. Wood, 


Geo. Howard, 

E. P. Warne, 

Gerret Forbes, 

J. Tallrnan, 

Jacob Stoutenburgh, 
Peter Kinnan, 

John Morris, 

John Woodward, 

J. Waterman, 

H. A. Vedder, 
George Innes, 

John (kdston. 


Nathaniel Hunt, 
William R. Thompson, 
Eben. M‘Donald, 
Janies W. Gray, 

Abm. Bokee, 

K. Nexsen, Jun. 

J. Mitchell, 

J. Board, 

'fhos. Darling, 

Jas. M‘KeoY, 

Char. Duryee, 

Walter Seaman,. 

Bez. L. Howe, 


34 


2adock Hedden, 
Wm. Keeff, 

Jno. Wbittelsey, 

S. Sullivan, 
Lawrence IVfyer, 
James Anderson, 
Jacob Ludlum, 
Dennis Strieker, 

C. Rider, 

Peter R. Sprainger, 
Jos. Morrison, 
Thomas Waring, 

R. Hunter, 

Chas. Chipp, 
Donald M‘LeaD, 
Stephen Crane, 

Lee Peek, 

Geo. W. Cooke, 
Rich’d. Ward, 
Ephraim Snow, 
Sam’l. Marvin, 

Geo. G, Bemas, 


W. Morton, 

J. Cutler, 

J. Porter, 

John H. Leggett, 
Richd. Nixon, 
Andrew Van Tuyl, 
B. Duvoy, 

Andrew Norwood. 
John Van Darlein, 
Bernardus Rider, 
Isaac Keeler, 

Wm. Philips, 

John Came, 

Daniel Nash, 
Daniel Johnston, 
Jacob Van Winkle, 
Ezekl. Dodge, 
John T. Cluett, 
John Van Dyk, 
Daniel Dodge, 

Win. Arnett, 

W. V. Beuren. 


No. 3. 

JS/'ew-York, Feb. Ist, 1821. 

J. G% Swift, Esq. Sui'veyor^ fiort of JYew-York. 

Sir —I have seen, with regret, (in the priblic papers of thi« 
city) a communication from his Excellency the Governor, to 
the legislature of this state, setting forth, among others, that 
the inspectors of the customs had acted under the influence of 
the surveyor of this port, at a late election for Governor, &c» &c. 

Sir, I received the appointment of inspector of the customs, for 
this district, in September, 1815; and I do declare, that no at¬ 
tempt has been made, by my superiors in office, to influence my ^ 
vote or opinion, since I have been attached to the revenue de¬ 
partment. I do further declare, that I have a personal friend¬ 
ship and regard for Governor Clinton, and that my vote would 
have been given to him, in preference, if I had possessed one. 

I am, sir, very respectfully. 

Your ob’t. serv’t. 

B. M. VAN BEUREN. 

No. 4. 

JVev^York, January 1821. 

Sir —I have seen, with much regret, a communication in. 
the newspapers of our city, made by Gov. Clinton, to the Le¬ 
gislature of this stRte, in which he charges you with having ex¬ 
ercised, at the last spring election, an undue influence over the 
custom-house officers. To the best of my knowledge and be- 


35 


Hef, this charge is totally unfounded. So far from your influ¬ 
encing, or attempting to influence any of those officers, I am 
certain that many of them did vote in favor of Mr. Clinton’s ad¬ 
ministration ; and I take this opportunity to declare, that so far 
from entertaining any fear of offence, in exercising my own 
riglit of suffrage, I have publicly expressed my opinions ; and 
I did vote for those gentlemen, for members of the Legislature, 
who were considered friendly t© Gov. Clinton, except four, who 
were on the opposite ticket; and this exception arose from 
private friendship and esteem. 

I remain sir, your most obedient, and very hum’bl. servU 
S. TERRY, Dep.. Surveyor. 

Jos. G. Swift, Esq. Surveyor of the Port of JV^eiu-York. 

No. 5. 

J\/ew~York, 3c? February, 1821. 

Samuel B. Romaine, Esq. 

Sir— As my name is mentioned in the late message of the 
governor, as having exerted my influence in opposition to Mr. 
Clinton, at the late election in our city, I think proper to com¬ 
municate to you the following remarks. I am a resident of the 
fifth ward, and did not attend the poll at the last election, on no 
day thereof, except for the purpose of voting. And I solemn¬ 
ly aver, that the statement of John Peterson, (as far as it re¬ 
lates to me,) is false, and without any foundation in truth. 

I did see, at the time of giving my vote, two officers of the 
customs, from both of which I received tickets ; the one op¬ 
posed to, and the other in favor of Mr. Clinton. 

Yours, respectfully, 

GEORGE INNES, Inspector of the Revenue. 

No. 6. 

J\rev)’-York, 3d February, 1821. 

I, Thomas Darling, of the fifth ward of the city of New- 
York, do solemnly declare, that the certificate accompanying 
the late message of Mr. Clinton, to the house of assembly of 
this state, (signed John Peterson,) stating that I did attend the 
poll of said ward, during the greater part of the late election 
for governor, &c. is not truth, inasmuch as I was not at said poll 
more than three hourss I acknowledge, while at the poll, I did 
distribute tickets in favor of Daniel D. Tompkins, and did then 
and there see other officers of the customs warmly engaged in 
promoting the election of De Witt Clinton ; and I aver, that 1 
was not influenced by any person whomsoever, in my opposition 
to Mr. Clinton—And moreover, I only attended the poll, when 
not called by my official duties elsewhere. 

Yours respectfully, 

THOS. DARLING, Inspector of the RevevAK’.. 


36 


No. 7. 

Samuel B. Romaine, Esq, 

Sir —Being brought before the public, by a document ac¬ 
companying the governor’s message to the house of assembly, 
I beg leave to trouble you with a few incidents relative to my¬ 
self. I am a republican, and did exercise my right of suffrage 
at the late election, by which it appears, I have given offence, 
in not retiring immediately from the poll, after having deposit¬ 
ed my vote ; and having never before heard, that to hold an of¬ 
fice under the general government, it was necessary to relin-! 
quich the privileges of a citizen, I devoted my time, not called 
for in the discharge of my official duties, to the promotion of 
the republican cause, at the last spring election. During the 
whole of the time I attended the poll, a brother officer was as 
zealously engaged in promoting the election of Mr.Clinton, as I 
was that of Mr. Tompkins—And I believe there were as ma¬ 
ny officers of Uie customs engaged in the interest of Mr. Clin¬ 
ton, as there were against him. And I do solemnly declare, 
that in the whole of my conduct, at the late election, I was not 
under the influence of fear or favor of any person.' 

I am, sir, with much respect, 

Your humble servant, 

BEN. WOOD, Inspector of the Rei^enue. 

No, 8. 

New-York-i 3c? February^ 1821. 

1, James Anderson, (freeman, and of lawful age,) of the 
fifth ward of the city of NewrYork, do declare, that in every 
respect, I did, at the last election, exercise what I esteem an 
unalienable right, viz. giving my vote for whom I thought 
proper, and of freely expressing my opinion of public men 
and measures ; and that in so doing, I did not act under the in^ 
lluence of any person, but according to my own reason, and 
in the exercise of the rights guaranteed to me by the spirit and 
letter of our free constitution and laws. It appears, however, 
that the only reason why I am assailed for so doing, is, because 
I was unfriendly to the election of Mr. Clinton ; which reason 
is not only absurd, but highly ridiculous ; for it is notorious, 
that there were men in the same office with myself, who were 
more zealous, if possible, in Mr. Clinton’s interest, than I was 
in that of Mr. Tompkins. And I do aver, that there W'ere, and 
are now in the office, a number of gentlemen, who are warmly 
in the interest of Mr. Clinton ; and that no means were inter¬ 
posed, to my knowledge and belief, to prevent the free exer¬ 
cise of their rights, at the last election. 

JAMES ANDERSON. 

No. 9. 

I, Carroll M. Gahagan, do hereby certify, that during the 
Ihree days of the last spring election, I frequently attended 


/ 

the poll of the 5th ward ; that I saw George G. Burras attend¬ 
ing said poll; that he was warmly and zealously supporting the 
election of De Witt Clinton, as governor; and that the said 
Burras was then inspector of the customs, and in the employ 
of the custom-house. 

And I do further certify, that I have been personally ac¬ 
quainted with James Anderson, inspector of the customs, for 
the last fifteen years, during which time he has uniformly and 
decidedly espoused the cause of the republican party, both pre¬ 
vious and subsequent to his appointment in the custom-house : 
That I also frequently saw Benjamin Wood, at said election, 
but I saw nothing dishonorable or improper in the conduct ei¬ 
ther ol Burras, Anderson, or Wood; that they only exercised 
those rights and privileges which are guaranteed to every citi¬ 
zen, by the laws of our country, and which John Peterson made 
use of in favor of De Witt Clinton, under whom he holds an 
appointment, as freely as Anderson and Wood, did in favor of 
D. D. Tompkins. , C. M. GAHAGAN. 

•N'ew-Yory, February 2d, 1821. 

CUSTOM-HOUSE, STATEN-ISLAND. 

No. 1. 

We, the undersigned in-spectors of the last spring election, 
for the town of Castleton, in the county of Richmond, having 
lately seen several certificates from some of the inhabitants of 
the town, implicating the conduct of the two inspectors of the 
cu-stoms, stationed at Staten-Island, Mr. Wm»Van Buren and 
Mr. William Arnett* charging them with violent and improper 
conduct at the poll of said election, and with browbeating, and 
denouncing the electors friendly to the election of Governor 
Clinton, do certify : That the said charges are entirely ground¬ 
less and unfounded; but that their conduct, as far as it was wit¬ 
nessed by us, was temperate, orderly, and peaceable through¬ 
out, and that no disposition was evinced by either of these gen¬ 
tlemen, to outrage the feelings, or to interrupt or prevent, the 
peaceable exercise of the right of suffrage of any individual 
present. And we do further certify, that the conduct of John 
W. Blake, one of the signers of the certificates alluded to, 
was extremely outrageous and scandalous, especially on the 
last day of the election, when it became so violent and disor- 
ly, as to excite serious apprehensions in our minds, for the 
safety of the ballot boxes; and if the proper officer had been 
present, wo should have felt ourselves compelled, by a sense of 
duty, to have committed him to gaol. 

Tunis Egbert, 

Jacob Tysen, 

John Mersereau. 

Ttichmond County, town of Cafitleton, Feb. 26, 1821. 


38 


No. 2. 

I certify, that I attended at the poll, at Mr.Thomas Hazard’s, 
in the town of Castleton, in April last, and that I had an oppar- 
tunity, while there, of observing the conduct of Mr. William 
Van Beuren,and Mr. William Arnett, the two inspectors of cus¬ 
toms, stationed at Staten-Island, and that so faras it was witnessed 
by me, it was discreet, orderly and peaceable, throughout; and 
that no undue or improper means were resorted to by either of 
these gentlemen, to influence any of the electors in the exercise 
of their right of suffrage. And having lately seen among the do¬ 
cuments accompanying the governor’s message to the assem¬ 
bly, several certificates, in which they were charged with vio¬ 
lent and indecorous conduct, while at the poll, with browbeat¬ 
ing and denouncing the electors friendly to the election of Gov. 
Clinton, and with displaying a reprehensible activity in favor of 
the candidate opposed to him ; I do feel myself obliged, in jus¬ 
tice to the individuals implicated, to state, that I believe the al¬ 
legations contained in said certificates, to be groundless, with 
the exception of the declarations ascribed to Mr. Van Beuren, 
respecting John W. Blake. And I do further certify, that on 
the morning of the impending election, Mr. Arnett, in conver¬ 
sation with me, stated, that he should not attempt to influence 
his bargemen, in their votes, for that he deemed such conduct 
improper. JOHN T. HARRISON. 

Castleton-) Richmond county^ January 27th) 1821. 

No. 3. 

County of Richmond, to nvit .—Personally appeared before 
me, Winant Hougwout, one of the justices of the peace, for 
the said county, Abraham Parker, of the towm of Castleton, 
carpenter, who being duly sworn upon the holy evangelists, 
deposeth and saith, that on or about the month of November, 
1819, he, this deponent, made a verbal agreement with his ex¬ 
cellency Daniel D. Tompkins, for the purchase of two lots of 
ground, lying in the town of Castleton, and that he afterwards, 
upon the said lots being put into his possession, did execute to 
the said Daniel D. Tompkins, a certain promissory note, by 
w'hich he, this deponent, bound himself to pay for the said lots 
of ground, in six months, the sum of three hundred dollars, 
either in money or carpenter’s work. And further this depo¬ 
nent saith, that being unacquainted with the necessary forms 
entitling him to a vote, offered himself as a voter on the free¬ 
hold ticket, and was challenged by Capt. John W. Blake, as to 
his competency, he not having the deed for the aforesaid lots, 
but supposed himself entitled to the privileges, in conseqii<ence 
of the aforesaid agreement : That he, this deponent, inconse¬ 
quence of being so challenged, immediately called on his excel¬ 
lency D, D. Tompkins, and received his deed, which was lying 


39 


ready for him. And this deponent further saith, that the exe¬ 
cution of said deed was in consequence of his having, bona 
fide given his note as aforesaid, in the sum of three hundred 
dollars, and part of which had at the time of executing said 
deed, actually been paid by carpenter’s work, done agreeable 
to the condition and tenor of said note ; and that there was n# 
understanding, either direct or implied, that he, this deponent, 
would, in consequenee, forward the election of the said Daniel 
D. Tompkins ; nor did he, this deponent, there or elsewhere, 
ever make any declaration to the above effect. And this de¬ 
ponent further saith, that he has seen a certain certificate of 
Richard E. Blake, of this county, in which he says that this de¬ 
ponent stated to him, the said Blake, that said lots of ground 
were a present from thesaidDaniel D. Tompkins, to him, and 
at the time of his, the said Blake, seeing the deed thereof, the 
same was not yet dry—he, this deponent, solemnly declares 
the same to be untrue—he, this deponent, having at no time 
whatever, made any declaration to that effect ; on the contrary, 
it was well known that the same was a fair and just transaction, 
and had no reference whatever to the then impending electioa . 
And further this deponent saith not. 

ABRAHAM PARKER. 

Sworn before me, this 23d day of January, 1821. 

Winant Houf^h^ivout^ justice. 

No, 4. 

Richmond County^ ss .—William Van Beuren, being duly 
sworn, deposeth and saith, that he has lately observed a certifi¬ 
cate of John W. Blake, relative to his expressions, during the 
first day of the election, held at the house of Thomas Hazard, 
jun. at the Quarantine Ground; which expressions he did use, 
under the following circumstances : 

The father of this deponent, and his family, during the revo¬ 
lutionary contest, did support that cause which gave birth to A- 
merican independence ; the former, at the expense of his for¬ 
tune, and risk of his life. My eldest brother w as in the contest 
during that war, by which he suffered the loss of considerable 
property, by the British, and their partizans, the refugees, orto- 
ries, so called: And a younger brother, a captain in the army, 
during the last opposition to British tyranny, in six or seven sharp 
rencounters with the common enemy of our republic, acquitted 
himself with much honor : That deponent has uniformly advo¬ 
cated the cause of republicanism, which he believed, and still 
believes to be the cause of his country. That at the late elec¬ 
tion, as first stated, where this deponent resides, one John W'. 
Blake, whom he was informed,, and verily believed, was what 
was termed a refugee, and had taken part with the British dur¬ 
ing the contest alluded to ; and that since that sinie he 


40 


had been shot in the hinder parts, from stealing from some oi 
his neighbors. Such a person challenging my right of suffrage, 
Q>elieving those reports to be true,] and the recollection of the 
sufferings we endured, during the war which achieved our in¬ 
dependence, caused my passion to gain the ascendency of my 
better judgment; Some person observed in my hearing, that 
such a man ought to be tarred and feathered, and I injudicious¬ 
ly said that I would give fifty dollars towards the expenses, to 
tar and feather him. After reflecting on what had passed, I 
went to the poll held at Mr. Vincent Bodines, about three miles 
from this place, expecting an opportunity of seeing Mr. Blake, 
in order to make a suitable apology for iny unguarded expres¬ 
sion, which I did ; and Mr. Blake there expressed his entire 
satisfaction, and said he would think no more of it. Respecting 
the other certificates, alluding to the elect on in this vicinity, 
there must be an extraordinary error; for excepting that which 
occurred with respect to Mr. Blake, I believe that my conduct 
during the time I was at the poll, was as prudent and discreet as 
that of any other person. For in consequence of the difficulty 
with Mr. Blake, I was particularly camious not to make use of 
any observations designedly to cause irritation. And as to his 
Excellency the Governor, I never did, to the best of my recol¬ 
lection, denounce him in that virulent manner which is declar¬ 
ed in the certificates ; neither did I denounce or brow-beat any 
of Mr. Clinton’s friends in the manner represented in the certi¬ 
ficates ; the credibility of which will be for others to judge of 
hereafter. 

This deponent further saith, that from the first period that 
Mr. Clinton was held up as a candidate in the political family, I 
supported him with unremitted zeal, (then an officer under the 
general government,) until I was satisfied, in my opinion, he had 
left the old republican school: and I trust I have now the same 
liberty of conscience, and the same elective franchises I had at 
that time : and the public have not, in the smallest degree what¬ 
soever, suffered any inconvenience in ray attention to the right 
of suffrage. 

This deponent further saith, that on the 24th instant, in com¬ 
pany with hlessrs. Wm. Arnett and Caleb T. Ward, he waited 
on Wm. W. Blake, for an explanation alluding to the assertions 
contained in the certificate whereunto his name is affixed; the 
same being read to him, I asked said Blake, whether he saw me 
or Mr. Arnett, at the poll, denouncing or brow-beating any indi¬ 
vidual ; he said he did not, neither did he see Mr Wm. Arnett, 
after the first day of election, until the last day, in the evening, 
after the poll was closed; that the certificate was a pack of stuff; 
that he could neither read or write ; that twm men came to his 
house, and wrote something; he being in a irolick, authorized 


41 


his son to sign what they had written, and that he had been im¬ 
posed upon ; and on the 25th, the day following, I saw Mr. Wm. 
W. Blake and Richard E. Blake together, and both declared 
the same thing. W. V, BEUREN* 

Sworn to before me, Wm. S, Root, a public notary of the state 
of New-York, residing at the Quarantine Ground, Staien- 
Island, this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our 
Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one. 

JVdi, S. Rooty JVbtary Public^ 

No, 5, 

Richmond Conntyy ss —William Arnett, being duly sworn, 
doth depose and say, that he believes that he is one of the offi¬ 
cers in the United Slates service, referred to in a late message 
of Governor Clinton, to the legislature of the state of New-York, 
That this deponent neither attended the poll, or influenced 
any person improperly or unjustly at the late election, except¬ 
ing his attendance to give his vote, which, as a freeman and a 
citizen he had a right, and was bound to do; he refers to the 
annexed affidavits to shew, that he left every person subordinate 
to him to vote as their principles dictated, which liberty, it was 
currently reported, was not allowed by a conspicuous, state offi¬ 
cer, within the pale of the quarantine ground, whose sentiments 
differed from this deponent. 

The public duties of this deponent, conflned him to the quaran¬ 
tine establishment, and he there remained and attended to those 
duties, with the exception of a part of the first day, when the poll 
was held near his residence, but at the same time he attended to 
the vessels and other duties appertaining to his office, on the bay 
and shore. That he never attended the election at Bodine’s until 
after the poll was finally closed, where he went after the duties of 
the day were performed, to ascertain the result of the canvass of 
Castleton. That the certificates of Wm. W. Blake and Richard 
E. Blake, which this deponent has seen as documents accorapany- 
ino* the said message of Governor Clinton, are false and unfound¬ 
ed, in one respect at least, as this deponent was never present at 
Bodine’s during said election, until after the poll had closed. 

The officers and citizens of the United States are, as this depo¬ 
nent conceives, deeply interested in every election, which decides 
the appointment or election of President and Vice-President of the 
nation : and he therefore conceives, that he, as a citizen of the 
state, a republican in profession and practice, an elector by right, 
and equally interested with his fellow-citizens in the prosperity and 
welfare of his country, has the privilege of enjoying the elective 
franchise equally with them ; but that he either influenced any 
man unduly, or attended the poll whilst it was open at Bodine’s, 
as stated in the certificates, is wholly unfounded and false, as the 
annexed certificates, in addition to his own veracity, will, he hopes, 
satisfactorily establish. 


42 


Tins deponent has called on Win. W. Blake, who declares, that 
he never said that this deponent, at any time during the election, 
acted any way improperly, and that he does not recollect ever see¬ 
ing this deponent at any other poll, than the one held at Hazard’s, 
the first day of the election, thereby giving the lie to his certificate. 

That this deponent has also called on Richard E. Blake, for an 
explanation of his certificate, who declares, that he only said, that 
this deponent was at the poll the first day, and declares, that he 
saw nothing improper in this deponents conduct; that he was ask¬ 
ed by the men, who wrote his certificate, whether he had heard 
Mr. Van Beuren say, that he would give fifty dollars to tar and fea¬ 
ther John W. Blake, which he answered he had not, but that he 
had heard such report, and from that, says he, they have made all 
that stuff. On being asked who wrote their certificates, they de¬ 
clare they do not know who they were. That one of the men was 
called Doctor, but whether it was Doctor Secor, they could not 
tell; and from the description of the other, those who were in com¬ 
pany with this deponent, calculated it was Garret Gilbert, Esq. 

Both William W. Blake and Richard E. Blake, declare to this 
deponent, that at the time these gentlemen called on them and wrote 
their certificates, they were somewhat jolly, and that they hardly 
knew what they had certified. 

And this deponent doth further state, that in a late conversation 
with Mr. Daniel Van Duzer, of this place, he. Van Duzer, did de¬ 
clare, that he went with Mr. G. Gilbert and Doctor Secor, to Mr. 
Wm. W. and Richd. E. Blake’s, at the time their certificates were 
wrote ; and further this deponent saith net. Wm. ARNET. 
Sworn before me, this 30th day of Jan. 1821. 

Benj. Simonson, Justice. 

No. 6. 

Richmond County, ss .—Caleb T. Ward, being duly sworn, doth 
depose and say, that on the 24th inst. this deponent was present at 
an interview between Wm. Van Beuren, William Arnett, and Wm. 
W. Blake, in which the two former read to said Blake, a certifi¬ 
cate purporting to be signed by him, and communicated to the 
legislature of this state, with a late message from the governor, and 
desired an explanation and acknowladgment of its untruth ; that 
said Blake declared that he was in a frolic, when two men of New- 
York, one of whom was called a Doctor, and the other of whom he 
described; and declared, he supposed the first to be Dr. Secor, 
the other, from description, and other circumstances, this deponent 
believes to have been Garret Gilbert, Esq. That the above nam¬ 
ed Blake says, that he can neither read or write, and that his son 
signed a paper for him, which he presumed was the certificate al¬ 
luded to. That it was certainly false, because he had never seen 
Mr. Arnett at the poll at Bodine’s, nor did he ever see either him 
or Mr. Van Beuren, deliver out a ticket or tickets, during the last 
annual election, at any place. That he, and Richard E. Blake, 


43 


both agreed to come to the quarantine ground, and sign an ac¬ 
knowledgment of the error and mistake which had been made. 
The next day they both went to Mr. Arnett, in the quarrantine, 
and not finding him at home, came to Hazard’s hotel, and there, 
in the presence of this deponent, VVm. Van Beuren, Wm. Arnett, 
Thomas Hazard, jun. and others, in a public bar-room, made the 
same acknowledgment, and declared, that the facts stated in 
those certificates were never declared to by them, and were un¬ 
founded, according to their own recollection and knowledge, and 
again acknowledged they were in a frolic, when the certificates 
were obtained of them : And this deponent further saith, that on 
the 24th inst. he was also present at an interview between Mr. Ar¬ 
nett and Richard E. Blake, the latter of whom acknowledged, that 
the certificate purporting to have been given by him, and annexed 
to the aforesaid message, was incorrect. That he never saw Mr. 
Arnett at Bodine’s, during the last annual election, and never saw 
either him or Mr. Van Beuren, deliver out tickets, or brow-beat, 
or insult electors. That this deponent was present at Mr. Bodines 
when Mr, Van Beuren accosted Mr. John W. Blake, and informed 
him that he was provoked, by recollections relative to his toryism 
during the revolutionary and late war, and at his challenging in¬ 
discriminately, the descendents of revolutionary whigs, and sup¬ 
porters of their country in both wars, being freeholders, and un¬ 
disputed voters, at Mr. Hazard’s, and had therefore used an un¬ 
guarded and indiscreet expression relative to him, and wished to 
apologize for it; that the said John W. Blake also expressed a re¬ 
gret on his part, that his conduct had been so irritating, and de¬ 
clared himself fully satisfied with the explanation and apology of 
Mr. Van Beuren, and they both agreed to say, or think no more 
of the affair. And this deponent further saith, that William Van 
Beuren is a citizen of fair and respectable standing in society, and 
is entitled (in the opinion of this deponent and of his neighbors) to 
the character of a patriotic inhabitant of this vicinity. And this 
deponent further saith, that although, at a second interview at 
Hazard’s hotel, William W. and Richard E. Blake expressed their 
willingness to give a written certificate of the acknowledgments 
and facts, he has before stated in this affidavit, and promised to 
appear the next day for that purpose ; they have not, as he is in¬ 
formed and believes, performed that promise : That the said Rich¬ 
ard E. Blake, at the interview aforesaid, acknowledged also, that 
the certificate in relation to Mr. Parker was untrue, and that after 
he had been challenged for the want of a deed for his lots, Mr. 
Parker returned and said, he now had his deed, and voted without 
being challenged. And this deponent further saith, that Nathan 
Combes, who had recently come from Shrewsbury, or New'-York, 
to reside in this vicinity, and who soon after absconded therefrom, 
is a person in whose veracity confidence cannot, in his opinion, be 
placed. That the said N. Combes was understood, and believed 
by this deponent, to be a half-pay British officer, but that he w 


luforuifcd, and believes, that a few days nfier tlie elertiou said 
Combes shewed to'I homas Hazard, juii. \Aho ehalleng^ed him at 
the poll for disaffection to the country, an affidavit, purporting- that 
he had not received half-pay from the British government for sev¬ 
eral years past; and that notwithstanding the short resideime of the 
said Combes amongst us, he visited Albany, and returned in the ^ 
spring with a commission from the partizaus of Mr. Clinton, as 
notary and commissioner, and left the county as aforesaid, some¬ 
time in July or August last. CALEB T. WABD. 

Sworn to before me, William S. Root, a public notary of the 
state of New'-York, residing at the quarantine ground, Stateu-ls- 
land, this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord 
one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one. 

William S. Root, JSotary Public, 

No. 7. 

Richmond County, ss .—Thomas Hazard, jr. being duly sworn, 
cloth depose and say, that he was appointed a cliallenger for the 
town of Castleton, in said county, by the republican committee 
for said town, and attended regularly as such, during the whole 
election of April, 1820, and that William Arnett and William 
Van Beuren, never gave out tickets to his knowledge, and that 
said Arnett, in particular, was not present at the election, except 
occasionally during the first day, when it was held at the house of 
this deponent, until after the election was closed. That before 
the election, this deponent had a conversation with the said Wil¬ 
liam Arnett, and advised him to influence his boatmen to vote, 
which the said Arnett declined; and the said Arnett expressed 
his surprise at certain official ihsinnations (which had been made, 
as was reported by Dr. Bailey, health-officer, and which tliis de¬ 
ponent at the time supposed to be true) to the persons employed 
in the health department, advising them not to vote, as they were 
known to be republicans, and that they would vote against Go¬ 
vernor Clinton, and the federal party, if they voted at all ; tliat 
several freeholders, attached to that establishment, were thereby 
deterred, as he believes, from voting, and did not present them¬ 
selves at the poll, during the whole election, although it was held 
the whole of the first day, within fifty rods of their residence ; and 
he verily believes that it was on account of the intimations of Dr. 
Bailey as aforesaid, that tliey w'ere deterred or withheld from vot¬ 
ing. And this deponent further saith, that the said William Ar¬ 
nett was not present at the poll at Bodine’s. the last day of the election, 
as has been certified, and believes the certificates in that respect, en¬ 
tirely false and fabricated, not only from his own knowledge,biit be¬ 
cause he has recently been present at an interview in which the per¬ 
sons who gave the said certificates, or some of them, acknowledged 
or declare<l openly, that those expressions were not true ; that they 
were signed for them, at least for one of them, that is to say, as 
to William W. Blake, and when they w'ere so signed or given by 


45 


the said Blakes, they were in a frolic or state of intoxication, and 
had no foundation in truth ; and the said William W. Blake and 
llichard E. Blake, promised certify the next day, in writing, in 
the presence of this deponent, William Van Beuren, William Ar¬ 
nett, John \anderbilt, jr. Caleb T, Ward, and others, whose 
names he does not recollect at this moment, to the falsity and in¬ 
justice of the certificates alleged to have been made and signed by 
them, or either of them, as aforesaid. That the said VVhlliani W. 
Blake, last mentioned, said he believed that the persons who ob¬ 
tained the said certificates, were Dr. Secor and Garrit Gilbert, of 
New-York. That during the election, this deponent w’as challeng- 
ed by John W. Blake, and when llicliard E. Blake offered to 
vote, this deponent challenged him, on the ground of disaffection 
to the country : That this deponent, at the same time avowed to 
the said Blake, before the inspectors and audience, the reasons of 
the challenge, which were, that this deponent had been informed, 
and believed, that be had been unfriendly to the independence of 
the country, in the revolutionary war, and in the war of 1812, and 
had, in the late war, declared “ that he wished to God, that the 
frigate President, (then commanded by Commodore Rodgers,) 
would be taken by the British, and sent into New-York, and burn 
it down to ashes !” That he was apprised of his rights by this 
deponent, and informed, that if he would disavow or declare that 
those expressions were not made or entertained by him, this depo¬ 
nent would, with pleasure, withdraw' the challenge. That said 
Blake said, that rt was none of this deponent’s business, and de¬ 
clined answering, whereupon th’s deponent persisted in making 
him take the oath of allegiance. That John W. Blake had chal¬ 
lenged twenty-seven out of twenty-nine, of the firsl votes given 
at the election in Castleton, although he knew them to be free¬ 
holders or electors of representatives in Assembly and Congress, 
and had known them to vote for many years before, and to have 
taken the requisite oaths over and over again, upon his own chal¬ 
lenges ; and who, as this deponent believes, the said Blake was well 
satisfied were clearly and certainly entitled to vote. That this de¬ 
ponent holds no office under the general or state government, and 
never has held any. That Nathan Combes, referred to in said 
certificates, resided on this island about a year, during which time 
he went to Albany, and obtained, to the surprise of every respec¬ 
table resident, the office of public notary and commissioner, which 
he performed for a few months, and then absconded, and has ne¬ 
ver since been known or heard of in this county; and this depo¬ 
nent challenged him at the said election, upon the ground of his 
being a half-pay British officer, and the said Combes did, some 
few days after the election, shew to this deponent an affidavit, pro¬ 
fessing to be made by him, before the honorable John Garritson, 
for the satisfaction of this deponent, stating, that although he had 
been a half-pay British officer, heretofore, that he had not receiv¬ 
ed the said pay for several years past: And further this deponent 


46 


saith, that he, and many of his neighbours, would not, he verily 
believes, place confidence in the oath even of said Combes, where 
he was, in any manner or way interested. 

T. HAZARD, Jun, 

Sworn before me, this 30th day of Jan. 1821. 

Benj. Simonsoriy justice. 

No. 8. 

Richmond counfij, ss. —Personally appeared before me, Winant 
Hous'hwout, one of the justices of the peace for said county, Pe¬ 
ter Martling, of the town of Castleton, in said county, who being 
duly sworn, doth depose and say, that in a conversation with the 
honorable John Garritson, first judge of said county, a few years 
since, concerning the conduct of Capt. John W. BlaUe, towards 
him, this deponent, at an election held in said county, that he, 
the said Garritson, did declare and say, to this deponent, that the 
said Blake was a bad man, and of such a character, that he, the 
said Blake, ought not to be allowed to set at the poll of election 
as challenger, and ought to be broomsticked out of the house.— 
And further this deponent saith not. 

PETER MARTLING. 

Castleton, January 2bth, 1821. 

Sworn before me, this 24th day of January, 1821. 

Winant Houghwout, justice. 

No. 9. 

Richmond county, ss. —Personally appeared before me, Benja¬ 
min Simonson, one of the justices of the peace for the county of 
Richmond, John B. Simonson, of the town of Southfield, county 
aforesaid, who being duly sworn, upon the holy evangelists, de- 
poseth and saith, that being in company with Richard E. Blake, 
of Castleton, during the late war, he, the said Richard, did de¬ 
clare or say, that he wished that, the British might gain possession 
of New-York, and other assertions to the same effect, and that 
then we should have better times. This conversation took place, 
during the campaign of 1814, The said Richard and this depo¬ 
nent, were both attached to the cotnpany of Capt. John Barnes— 
and further this deponent saith not. 

JOHN B. SIMONSON. 

Sworn before me, this 23d day of January, 1821. 

Benjamin Simonson, justice. 

No. 10. 

Richmond county, ss —Cornelius V. B. Corson, being duly 
sworn, doth depose and say, that he was present at the tavern of 
James Dobson, now kept by Cornelius Van Buskirk, during the 
late war; that Richard E. Blake, of this county, was there pre¬ 
sent, and that he, the said Blake, did declare and say, that he 
wished to God, that the President frigate, (then commanded by 


47 


Commodore Rodgers,) would be taken by the British and sent in¬ 
to New-York, and burnit down to {ishes. And further this depo¬ 
nent saith not. CORNELIUS V. B. CORSON. 

Sworn before me this 27th day of January, 1821. 

Winant Hoiighwout, justice. 

No. 11. 

Richmond county^ ss. —Personally appeared before me, Winant 
Houghwout, one of the justices of the peace, for said county, John 
Baker, jun. who being duly sworn, doth depose and say, that he, 
this deponent, has seen a certificate among the documents ac¬ 
companying his Excellency Governor Clinton’s message, referred 
to the honorable the Legislature, marked U, in which the honora¬ 
ble John Garritson, first judge of this county, states, as to the 
good character and standing of a number of persons of this coun¬ 
ty, amongst which, he mentions the name of William W. Blake, 
a man to this deponent well known, as to property and character. 
And this deponent doth say, that the statement made, as to said 
Blake’s character, by judge Garritson, is not correct; for this 
deponent doth say, that he has detected him in the act of felony. 
And further this deponent saith not. JOHN BAKER, Jun. 
Sworn before me, this 25th day of January, 1821. 

Winant Houghwout, justice. 

No. 12. 

Richmond county, ss. —Personally appeared before me, Wi¬ 
nant Houghwout, one of the justices of the peace for said county, 
John Baker, Sen. who being duly sworn, doth depose and say, 
that he, this deponent, knows John W. Blake, and he, the said 
Blake, did admit to this deponent, that he was shot in the hinder 
part, by Cornelius Fountain, for stealing water-mellons out of the 
said Fountain’s patch, in this county, and he, the said Blake, 
did shew this deponent the marks of shot holes, in his, the 
said Blake’s hinder parts. And further this deponent saith not. 

JOHN BAKER, Sen. 

Sworn before me, this 25th day of January, 1821. 

Wmant Houghwout, justice. 

Resolutions of the Citizens of Buffalo. 

No. 1. 

Albany, February IG, 1821. 

Sir,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your let¬ 
ter of the 14th inst. inclosing the copy of a resolution, said to have 
been adopted by certain citizens of Buffalo, and referred to in the 
governor’s message of the 18th ult. as document W. V. and also 
an extract from the message containing his remarks thereon. 

The same deference to the chief magistracy of the state, which 
has induced the honorable bodies, whom you represent, to insti¬ 
tute the present enquiry, will demand from me a respectful an¬ 
swer to charges and insinuations, which, but for the official sane- 


18 


lion that has been given to them, I could onl}- have regarded with 
contempt. 

Had the Buffalo resolution, instead of general censure and in¬ 
discriminate invective, against a whole class of officers, advanced 
specific charges, against particular individuals, so as to have ad¬ 
mitted either of proof or refutation, 1 might perhaps, have deem¬ 
ed it my duty to notice it. But, even witii these imposing circum¬ 
stances, in its favor, it would still have amounted to nothing more 
than the denunciation of a party meeting : And considering the 
conspicuous place which the governor’s own conduct, has of late 
occupied in the resolutions of such meetings, he has ctlrtainly shewn 
that he was not wanting in a particular species of moral fortitudcy 
hy appealing to them, as a standard for appreciating character. 

The resolution, as explained in the correspondence between Dr. 
Marshall and the governor, and as connected with the general rea¬ 
sonings and imputations of the message, charges the gentlemen at¬ 
tached to the boundary commission, residing in the county of Ni¬ 
agara, with an active and zealous interference in the state elec¬ 
tions ; with endeavors to coerce tlie vote of electors ; with subser¬ 
viency to the views of the general government; and with declara¬ 
tions of an intention to revolutionize the county and state. 

In condescending to answer all these charges, so far as they may 
have been intended to apply to myself, 1 beg to be understood as 
not thereby adopting the political ethics of the message, which con¬ 
stantly confounds the fair exercise of the elective franchise, when 
it happens to be directed against the personal views of the gover¬ 
nor, and the utterance of idle and boasting expressions, with acts, 
which are not only reprehensible but criminal. 

With this explanation, I declare that any, and every charge or 
insinuation in the resolution or message, conveying the idea that I 
have ever endeavored to coerce, or improperly influence the vote of 
an elector, or, that 1 Iiave acted in subserviency to the views of the 
general government, in our state elections, is utterly false, and des¬ 
titute even of the shadow of foundation. And 1 further assure 
you, that I have never made the declaration mentioned in the re¬ 
solution, of an intention to revolutionize the county or state : And 
that, so far from having been troublesomely officious with late elec¬ 
tions, it has so happened, that I have never, sinoe I had the honor 
to hold my commission under the general government, exercised 
my undoubted privilege of attending political meetings, nor of re¬ 
maining longer at, or near the poll of an election, than has been 
necessary to deposit my own vote. I acknowledge however, at the 
same time, and with pride, that I have not only claimed, but exer¬ 
cised the right of freely expressing my sentiments, in regard to 
public men and measures; a right which 1 shall never surrender 
on the authority of a man, whose opinions, on this subject at least, 
(to borrow a figure from his friend) have changed with the phases 
«f his political fortunes. But in the exercise of this inestimabW. 


49 


and, with an American citizen, unalienable privilege, I challenge 
the proof, that 1 have departed from the decorum due to my public 
station. 

As to the other gentlemen employed in the boundary commis¬ 
sion, and who reside in the county of Niagara, 1 can only say, 
that they are freehold electors of the county ; and I believe, with 
one exception, native citizens of the state. I have never heard, 
nor do I believe, that they have taken any other part in the elec¬ 
tions, than is common with other citizens of their age and stand¬ 
ing ; and from my knowledge of their characters, 1 feel warrant¬ 
ed in saying, that they have done no acts dishonorable to them¬ 
selves, as gentlemen, or incompatible with the political rights of 
their fellow-citizens. 

1 ought, perhaps, to have closed this communication here ; but 
knowing that the public feeling has been highly excited by the 
message, and wall, of course, be gratified with every circum¬ 
stance, calculated to throw light upon it, 1 have thought proper 
to transmit the subjoined affidavits, of Major Camp and Doctor 
Trowbridge. 

Mr. Forward, (spoken of in Major Camp’s affidavit,) is collee- 
tor of the port of Buffalo, and at the same time, a state senator. 
I regret that I have not been able to find a copy of the other reso¬ 
lutions, passed at the Buffalo meeting, at the instance of iVfr. For¬ 
ward ; and which, if I do not greatly mistake, are not only abu¬ 
sive of the general government, of which he is an officer, but high¬ 
ly so, of a majority of the state senate, of which he is a member. 
He is, moreover, the political friend of the governor, and one of 
the “ custom-house officers on the lakes,” whose conduct is repre¬ 
sented, in the messsage, as having been so “unexceptionable.” 
Doctor Marshall, the chairman of the meeting, is clerk of the 
county, appointed during Governor Clinton’s administration, af¬ 
ter the removal of his predecessor. Mr. Platt, who gives the in¬ 
formation contained in the affidavits, is a young gentleman of the 
most respectable character and standing, and son of his honor 
Judge Platt, of the supreme court. 

I submit the affidavits without comment, and with the full be¬ 
lief, that the honorable the legislature, taking into view the time 
when the Buffalo resolution was gotten up, and with a knowledge 
of all the characters concerned, will be able to form a fair estimate 
of the motives which produced, and the consideration that is due 
to it. 1 have the honor to be. 

With great consideration and respect, 

Your obed’t serv’t. 

PETER B. PORTER. 
Honorable S. B, Rvmaine^ Chairman, ^c. 

No. 2. 

I hereby certify, that on or about the last oflVavember, 1820, 
I was present at the house of Gen. P. B. Porter, in company with 


50 


Ze^heniah Esq. and others. That the said ZepJieniak 

Platt, then and there stated, that he attended wliat was called a 
meetinj^ of the friends of equal representation, in the village of 
Buffalo, on the 7lh of December, 1820. That he was present 
from the time the meeting was organized, until it was dissolved. 
That he heard the resolutions read and passed. And that no reso¬ 
lution was read or passed at that meeting, in the least degree re¬ 
flecting on the officers of the general government, residing in that 
quarter, or in the remotest degree resembling the one published, 
purporting to have been passed at that meeting. 

J. TROWBRIDGE. 

fVashington, February 5, 1821. 

District of Columbia, Washington City, ss.—On this5th day of 
FebKuary, 1821, personidly appeared, the above named J. Trow¬ 
bridge, and made oath, in due form of law, that the facts stated 
in the foregoing certificate, are true, as stated. 

U. WEIGHTMAN, justice. 
No. 3. 

I hereby certify, that on the day on which the Niagara Journal, 
(containing certain resolutions said to have been passed at a meet¬ 
ing of the citizens of Buffalo, at which John E. Marshall was 
chairman) was published, I happened ^in the office of Zephe- 
niah Platt, Esq. and noticing the resolution criminating the United 
States’ officers in that vicinity, with improper interference in stale 
elections, 1 then asked Mr. Platt if he was present at the meeting, 
to which he replied in the affirmative. 

1 then read the said resolution to him, and he declared that no 
such resolution was introduced at that meeting, and observed, that 
if any had been proposed, he should have felt it his duty to have 
opposed it, as he did not believe that the said officers had impro¬ 
perly interfered in the elections of this state. Upon enquiring of 
Mr. Platt, how many persons attended the said meeting, he repli¬ 
ed, that it consisted of about ten or tw'elve persons, and that the 
said resolutions were drawn up or presented by 0. Forward, Esq, 
a senator of the western district of New-York, and collector of the 
customs, for the port of Buffalo creek. And 1 further certify, 
that I was present at the house of General Peter B. Porter, at the 
time mentioned in the certificate of Doctor Josiah Trowbridge, 
and then and there, heard Mr. Platt repeat the aforesaid declarar- 
tions, as stated in the said certificate. JNO. G. CAMP. 

Sw’orn before me, this 14th day of Feb. 1821. 

Geo. Dexter^ commissioner, ^e. 

No. 4. 

Black fiocky February 26, 1821. 

Sir —In ray letter to you of the Kith inst. with a view to shew 
the extreme tolerance and complacency of Governor Clinton’s dis¬ 
position, towards such federal officers, as might chose to insult 
the legislative branch of our state government, I adverted to cer- 


51 


tain other resolutions, of which 1 had not then a copy, passed oil 
the sug^gestion of collector and senator Forwaid, at the liuffalo 
meeting, of the 7th of December, and on whose proceedings the 
governor has relied for the proof of his charges against me. 

1 now enclose you a copy of two of these resolutions, as pub¬ 
lished in the Niagara Journal, of the 12th of December, and 
signed by John E. Marshall, chairman. 

I am", sir, respectfully yours, 

P. B. PORTER. 

Resolved, That we have seen, with regret and indignation, the 
names of senators and representatives from the w^estern district of 
this state, recorded in favor of the passage of the bill aforesaid ; 
that we consider said senators and representatives as having base¬ 
ly surrendered the rights of the people they had sworn faithfully 
to represent, and that we consider them as having forfeited the con¬ 
fidence of community, as well as all claim to the respect of their 
constituents. 

Resolved, That we have viewed wdth astonishment and detesta¬ 
tion, the indecorous and disgraceful conduct of the bucktail mem¬ 
bers of the senate towards the chief magistrate of this state, on 
the last day of their meeting ; and that they, with Peter R. Liv¬ 
ingston at their head, appeared more like an infuriated mob, des¬ 
titute of every principle of sense and decorum, than like the rep¬ 
resentatives of a free and enlightened people. 

District Attorney for the Southern District of 
New-York. 

No. 1. 

Neiv-York, February ^7, 1821. 

Sir —In compliance with the request “ of the joint committee 
of the Senate and Assembly, to whom was referred the message 
of his excellency the governor, of the ISifA q/ January, with 
the documents accompanying the same, requesting all the infor¬ 
mation which I can furnish, connected, with the subject referred 
to them,"' I transmit the affidavit of William Eaton, enclosed in 
the letter of Mr. Hoyt, before whom it was acknowledged, as the 
only information received from others, applicable to the specific 
charge against me individually, as contained in document X, of 
the message of his excellency the governor ; and as you have ex¬ 
pressed a wish on the part of the committee, that in “ replying 
to the charges contained in the documents, it may be put in a shape 
as authentic as possible,” I have also added my own statement, on 
oath. 

To the general allegation “ of my officious and improper in¬ 
terference," I shall make no reply, as the charge refers to no 
facts to which a personal explanation can be offered. I'or whether 
the allusion is made to the assertion of a right, which, as a citi¬ 
zen, I possess, of expressing, with freedom, to others, my opinica 


52 


of the character and disqualifications of those who aspire to hi^h 
and dignified trusts, or, if as an elector, I have been governed by 
feelings distinct from those which led others to the support Mr.Clin¬ 
ton, I am not yet aware tliat either can constitutionally be the sub¬ 
ject of limitation by the legislature, or of personal animadversion 
by the chief magistrate. 

With great respect, &c. 

I am your ob’dt. serv’t, 

ROBt. TlLLOTSOxN. 

Samuel B. JRomaine, Esq. chairman^ 

of the joint committee of the Senate and Assembly, ^c. 
No. 2. 

City of Neiv-York^ ss. —Robert Tillotson, being duly sworn, 
says, that the representation, said to have been made by this de¬ 
ponent, in the presence or hearing of William Eaton, as contained 
in the certificate X, of the documents transmitted with the mes¬ 
sage of his Excellency Governor Clinton, of the eighteenth of Jan¬ 
uary last, and signed by Israel Ketcham, “ that this deponent 
had directed a gentleman to go to certain individuals in the wes¬ 
tern district, and to say to them, that any office they wanted in 
that quarter, which was in the gift of the general government, 
should be given to them,” is false and unfounded. And further, 
that this deponent never did to any person whatsoever, either 
on this or any other occasion, hold language of the nature and 
tenor described in the said certificate. ROBt. TILLOTSON. 
Sworn before me, this seventh day of Feb. 1821. 

Anthy. Woodward, notary public, S. N. Y. 

No. 3. 

City and county of New-York, ss. —William Eaton, of the 
city of New-York, being duly sworn, says, that the certificate of 
Israel Ketcham, in document X, of his Excellency De Witt Clin¬ 
ton’s communication to (he legislature of this state, on the eigh¬ 
teenth day of January, instant, so far as relates to this deponent, 
is totally destitute of truth; and further, that Robert Tillotson, 
Esq. never said, in my presence, or to my knowledge, what is 
stated in the said certificate of the said Israel Ketcham, and 
therein represented to have been communicated by me to him ; nor 
did I ever report, or make any such declarations as are represent¬ 
ed in the said certificate ; nor had 1 ever any such conversations 
with the said Israel Ketcham, as is stated in his subsequent certi¬ 
ficate, dated the second day of January, 1821. 

WILLIAM EATON. 

Sworn before me, this 23d day of January, 1821. 

Jesse Hoyt, notary public. 

No. 4. 

New-York, January 23, 1821. 

Mr. Editor, 

Sir —Among the numerous certificates which accompanied the 
governor’s message to the house of assembly, the 18th inst. on 


the subject of undue influence in our state elections, I observe' 
in your paper of last evening, one from Israel Ketcham, stating, 
he derived part of the information contained in his certificate, frora> 
me. To this, I take the liberty of declaring the whole to be a base 
fabrication, absolutely false, and without the least shadow of feun- 
dation. SAM. COOPEK. 

Editor Daily Advertiser, Neic- York. 

District Attorney for the Northern District of 
New-York. 

No. 1. 

Albany, February 1821. 

Sir— Your letter, requesting information, in relation to the 
charges against me, contained in the governor’s message to the 
legislature, of the 18th January, was not received till after my ad¬ 
dress to the public, upon that subject, had been sent to the press. 
I was ignorant that the message, with the accompanying docu¬ 
ments, had been referred to a committee, or I should l)ave address¬ 
ed my communication to them. I must therefore beg leave to re¬ 
fer you to that communication, and to the certificates which ac¬ 
company it, for a refutation of the only charge against myself, 
which I felt it incumbent upon me to notice. The gentlemen who 
have signed those certificates, are among the most respectable in¬ 
habitants of the county of Schoharie ; and tw'o of them, Mr. Cros- 
well and Mr. Heed, are decidedly opposed to me in politics. 

In relation to the affidavits of Knapp and Bradford, I have only 
to remark, that in common with my fellow-citizens, I certainly felt 
a deep interest in the result of the last spring election ; and 1 did 
suppose, that in common with them, 1 had an undoubted right, 
fairly to exert whatever influence I might possess, in favor of the 
candidates whom 1 preferred. And I must protest against the 
doctrine contended for by the governor, that that right was for¬ 
feited, or impaired, by the circumstance of my holding a com¬ 
mission under the United State®. 1 find no such limitation of my 
rights, where alone it is to be sought for, in the constitution of 
this state. I am, very respectfully, 

Your ob’dt serv’t, 

.(ACOB SUTHERLAND. 

Samuel B. Romaine, Esq. chair¬ 
man of the joint committee, to 
whom was referred the message 
of the governor, of the l^th of 
Januaru. 

No. 2. 

TO THE PUBLIC. 

The grave and criminal nature of one of the charges which gov¬ 
ernor Clinton, in his communication to the legislature, of the 18th 
instant, thought proper to make against me, renders it a duty 



which I owe to myself, to my friends, and to the public, to notice 
and repel it. I shall of course be understood as alluding to the 
charge of threatening the tenants of Chancellor Lansing with pros¬ 
ecution, at the last spring’s election, if they did not vote as 1 di¬ 
rected ; a charge, which, if true, subjects me to a penalty of twelve 
hundred and fifty dollars, and disqualifies me from holding any of¬ 
fice within the state—which holds me up to the community’^ as a 
petty tyrant, proscribing, within the sphere of my power, all free¬ 
dom of opinion and action, and deserving of the detestation and 
abhorrence of all good citizens. 

Had tliis charge been made in an annonymous publication, I 
tshould, probably, have trusted to my general character for its refu¬ 
tation, and treated it with silent contempt; but when it appears 
in the shape of an aflidavit, and is adopted and sanctioned by 
the chief magistrate of the state, by being embodied in one of 
liis communications to tlse legislature, it acquires an importance 
which 1 do not feel myself at liberty to disregard. It is due to the 
■oflicial character of the governor to presume, that he would not 
place upon the records of the state, and publish to the world an in¬ 
strument, containiijg so serious an imputation upon the character 
of a respectable citizen, without having previously ascertained the 
rank and consideration of its author, in the community whose opini¬ 
ons he undertakes to represent. Governor Clinton must therefore 
be considered, as having given to the public, on this occasion, the 
strongest implied assurance, that the witness who had testified 
against me, maintains a character, and holds a situation in life, 
which entitles his representations, upon the subject on which he 
has spolien, to implicit credit and respect. What then will be 
thought, 1 will not say of the governor’s justice or magnanimity, 
but of his truth and honor, when it is known, that this Mr. Riilif- 
son, this expositor of public opinion, whom he has thus vouched 
for, is a boif of eighteen years of age, who has neither property, 
nor reputation to slake upon the truth of his affidavit—whom 1 nev¬ 
er saw or heard of till within three days, and whom nine tenths of 
the inhabitants of the town whose opinions he has undertaken to 
swear to, have never seen, nor heard of to this hour. 

Is there not something revolting to every man’s sense of justice 
and morality, in this attempt to palm upon the public as an intelli¬ 
gent and unexceptionable witness, in relation to public opinion, an 
unfledged and irresponsible boy—who was totally incompetent to 
speak upon that subject; when the fact which he swore to, if true, 
must have been known, and could have been testified to, by at least 
a majority of the adult inhabitants of the town of Blenheim. But 
it was n ’>t true, and therefore there was not a man to be found who 
would swear to it. 

But this is not all—Rulifson probably intended to swear to no 
more than was true, but lie has been made to swear to much more 
than he intenue ’ ; this is evident from the certificate of his expla¬ 
nation, signed by Mr. Croswell and others. Unaccustomed to ex- 


6b 


aminalion, and ignorant of the force of language, he has been made 
to represent that as the general opinion, which he only intended 
to represent as the conversation of a few individuals ; and, if the 
examination had been conducted by a man of honor, anxious only 
for the disclosure of truth, it would have appeared that those indi¬ 
viduals were a Knot of discomfitted partizans, smarting under re¬ 
cent defeat, and anxious to impute it to any other cause than its 
true one—the virtue and intelligence of the people. ]My opposition 
to the present chief magistrate of the state, has been uniform, but 
temperate—I have never permitted myself to speak of him, as an 
individual, but with decent respect. But when he so far forgets 
the respect due to himself, and the consideration due to others, as to 
permit the feelings of hostility, engendered by political opposition, 
to break forth into criminal charges and denunciations, whenever 
I am the subject ol them, I shall consider and treat him as a calum¬ 
niator; and if he is not protected by the legal presumption, aris¬ 
ing from the occasion on which he published the charges in ques- j 

tion, that he was not actuated by malice, I shall call him into a 
court of justice to prove, and answer for them. 

JACOB SUTHERLAND. 

Blenheim, Schoharie co^inty, Jan. 26, 1821. 

No. 3. 

We the subscribers do certify, that we were present at the house 
of Herman Rulifson, in the town of Blenheim, in the county of 
Schoharie, on the 26 th day of January instant, at which time Jacob 
Sutherland, Esq. of said towm, and others, were present, together 
with Rulif Rulifson. At which time and place the said Rulif, on 
being interrogated, stated, that he had made a certain affidavit be¬ 
fore Harmanus Bouck, Esq. dated the 8th instant, and which said 
affidavit has been transmitted by the Governor to the legislature of 
this state ; that in making said affidavit, he did not mean to convey 
the idea, that it w’as the general opinion, that said Sutherland had 
threatened with prosecution those who w^re opposed to him in poli¬ 
tics—but merely that he heard it so talked in company, where 
there were several persons present; but declined mentioning the 
names of the persons who were present, or who had said so. Said 
Rulifson further stated, that he knew of no person whom the said 
Sutherland had threatened to prosecute as aforesaid ; and never 
heard any person sav that he had been so threoJened, or that he 
knew of any person who had been so threatened ; but that all 
he meant to state in his affidavit was, that he had heard it so talk¬ 
ed, as above stated, and upon that grounded his belief that it was 
true. The said Rulif further slated, that the said affidavit was 
drawn by Henry Hamilton, Esq. of Schoharie. The father of the 
said RulixF stated, he was eighteen years of age in October last. 

A. CROSWELL, Jus. Peace, 

HENRY HAGER, 

N. P. TYLER, 


January ^7, 1821, 


No. 4. 

We the subscribers, do hereby certify, that we arc inhabitants 
of the town of Blenheim, in the county of Schoharie ; that we re¬ 
side in different parts of said town, and that probably every iuliabi- 
tant of said town is known to one or the other of us ; t{iat we have 
seen, and read, and heard of, an affidavit, purporting- to have been 
made by R. W. Rulitson, before Harmanus Bouck, Esq. on the 
8 th day of January instant, which has been transmitted by the 
Governor of this state to the legislature of the same ; in which, 
among other things, it is stated by the said R. W. Rulifson, that 
he has generally understood, and believes, that Jacob Sutherland, 
Esquire, previous to the last spring election, as the agent of the late 
Chancellor Lansing, threatened the tenants of the said Chancellor 
Lansing, in said town, w'ith prosecution, unless they w’ould vote as 
he directed ; that previous to the publication of the said affidavit, 
we never heard such an opinion expressed—and we do not hesitate 
to say, that such is not the general opinion in the towu of Blen¬ 
heim, nor the opinion of any respectable portion of the inhabitants 
of said town, nor, as we believe, of any respectable individual in 
said town ; but, on the contrary, we are fully satisfied, that the said 
Jacob Sutherland has never exercised, or attempted to exercise, 
any undue or improper influence over the votes of the inhabitants 
nf said town. A Croswell, Just. Peace, 

Colber Reid, Town Clerk, 

John Brewsted, Superv. Iflenheim, 
Christopher Hoagland, J 
Benjamin Frazee, > Assessors. 

Valentine Efner, 3 

Daniel Hager, jun. Just. Peace. 

POST-OFFICE. 

No. 1. 

General Post-Office, Fehruary 1821, 

Sir —In reply to yours of the Sth, 1 have the honor to state, that 
in the spring of 1820, 1 removed certain post-masters in the state 
of New-York, because, (from the representations which were made 
to me, by respectable characters) 1 did believe that those post¬ 
masters did not conduct with that official impartiality which jus¬ 
tice and duty required. If there has existed any interference with 
the election of governor of New-York, by officers of the federal 
government, either organized or unorganized, 1 am ignorant of it. 

I never had any conversation or communication whatever, with 
any executive officer of the national government; nor did 1 ever 
write a word to any post-master or mail contractor, on the subject 
of that election. The number of post-masters in the state of New- 
York, is six hundred and seventy-five. 

With respectful esteem, 

Your mo. obt. st. 

R. J. MEIGS, Jr. 


Hon. Henry Meigs. 


No. 2. 

Caldvjell^ Warreyi Co. *Y. Y. 

The honorable Nathaniel Pitcher, E. C. Gross, and R. S. 
Skinner, recommend to appoint Dow D. Williamson, post¬ 
master at this place, vice Halsey Rogers to be removed, in con- 
sc(pience of the people having lost all confidence in him as a 
public officer. R. J. M, Jr. 

Remove and appoint, !7th March, 1820. 

A correct copy from the original record in the post-office de¬ 
partment. 

THOS. ARBUCKLE, Clerk. 

February 6th, 1821, 

No. 3. 

Poughkeepsie^ March 20/A, 1819. 

Sir —As I was made the means of presenting certain docu¬ 
ments and papers, in relation to the removal of Mr. M’Keen, 
and the appointment of Mr. V. Ness, I made it my business 
personally to possess myself of the circumstances of the case, 
on the spot, and which I beg leave to present to you. There 
appears to be almost one universal sentiment in favor of the a- 
bove removal and appointment. Indeed, there can be no mis¬ 
take as to those parties ; however, some diversity of opinion 
exists, in favor of Mr. Leonard, who is a clergyman at this 
place, against whom no objection can be made, except that of 
the inconvenience of not having the mail opened on Sunday ; 
and on this account he is generally objected to. The state of 
the office is this, which I have from undoubted authority. The 
young man who now performs the duties of the office, does 
them for one half of the profits; Mr Ketcham, now sheriff of 
the county, has the other half, and Mr. M’Keen the sole privi¬ 
lege of franking. Thus, the office is subdivided into three dis¬ 
tinct departments—The heads of two are not within your know¬ 
ledge, and the one which is, has nothing to do with it, except 
to avail himself of the right of franking. 

I cannot refrain from giving to you, as my decided opinion, 
that every part of this society would be gratified by the removal 
of Mr. M'Keen, and the appointment of Mr. V. Ness. 

Be pleased to accept, sir. 

The assurance of my high respect and esteem, 

PHILIP J. SCHUYLER. 

I certify, that the foregoing is a true and correct copy, by me 
compared with the original now on file in the general post-office. 

THOS. ARBUCKLE, Clk.of Appointments. 

February loth, 1821. 

f) 


58 


No. 4. 

To the Honorable Return J. Meigs^ Post-Maeter^General of the 
United States. 


Sir —The subscribers, residing in the village of Sandy-Hill, 
in the town of Kingsbury, county of Washington, and state of 
New-York, respectfully represent, that the post-office, within 
said village, is one of considerable importance, and its accom¬ 
modations and attendance, ought, in some measure, to corres¬ 
pond with the business of the office. The office is now held by 
Alpheus Doty, who is a tavern-keeper, and has no post-office, 
but a small corner of his bar-room, partitioned with an open 
railing, and frequently the door is left open, and letters and 
other deposits left exposed to the throng which are usual in bar¬ 
rooms. It is also a fact, that the post-master and his deputy, 
are very frequently absent, and if present, oftentimes unac¬ 
commodating. Letters many times lie over for days after be¬ 
ing called for, which occasions disappointment; in short, we 
deem it unjust, that the office should be any longer continued 
with the present incumbent, subject to the numerous complaints 
continually making, when it can be transferred into other hands 
perfectly satisfactory to the citizens at large. We therefore 
request, that a supersedeas issue, displacing Mr. Doty, and that 
Carmi Dibble, of the same place, be appointed in his stead. 

Mr. Dibble is a merchant, his residence well adapted for the 
office, a man of property and of unimpeachable integrity, pos¬ 
sessing an obliging disposition. 

Yours with every sentiment of respect, 

D. Sherrill, H. C. Martindalc, 

M. D. Danvers, R. C. Gibson, 

Reuben Mussey, Luther Wait, 

Nathh Pitcher, Stephen Lee. 

J. B. Lathrop, 

June 20, 1818. 

I certify, that the foregoing are true and correct copies, by 
me compared with the original now on file in the general post- 
oifice. TUGS. ARBUCKLL, Clk. of App.ointments. 

Feb. 10th, 1821. 

No. 5. 

To the Honorable Return J. Meigs, Post-Master-General of the 
United States. 


The undersigned, inhabitants of the village of Little-Falls, 
i*espectfully represent, that Samuel Smith, the post-master in 
this village, has recently obtained the benefit of the insolvent 
act. That he has, for about six months past, had all the busi¬ 
ness of the post-office done by Anson Hollister, of said village. 


59 


druggist > that the said Anson lias attended to the same to our 
entire satisfaction. That the said Samuel says he intends soon 
to remove to the state of Louisiana, and permanently to reside 
there ; that he is now, and has been for some time past, in the 
city of New-York, preparatory to his removal. The under¬ 
signed should be gratified to have some attentive and responsi¬ 
ble person appointed to said office, instead of Mr. Smith, and 
do accordingly recommend said Anson Hollister, as a fit and 
responsible person for said office, he also residing very conve¬ 
nient for the villagers and the mail carriers, and directly oppo¬ 
site the stage house tavern. And your petitioners hoping they 
do not apply in vain, as in duty bound, will ever pray. 

Lit tie alls ^ Herkimer co. Dec. 1818. 

George H. Feeter, Thoipas Buchanan, 


Richard Petrie, 

N. S. Benton, 
Elkanah Stevens, 
Chauncey Marshall, 
Peter H. Bellinger, 
Eben. Britton, 

Jnhn Trotheroe, 
Asa Fuller, 

David Petrie, 


J. H. M’Comes, 
Thomas Smith, 
Jabez Fox, 

John Phillips, 
Robert Henchman, 
Thos. Morgan, 

E. C. Penney, 

Wm. W. Carr, 
Thomas Gould. 


I certify, that the foregoing are true and correct copies, by 
me compared with the originals now on file in the general post- 
office, Feb.10th, 1821. 

THOS. ARBUCKLE, Clerk of J/ifiointments. 
No. 6. 

To the Honorable Return J. Meigs^ Post-Mahter •General of the 
United States. 


The petition of the undersigned republican electors of the 
town of Hartford, in the county of Washington, and state of 
New-York,' humbly sheweth, that the office of post-master, in 
this town, is now filled by Slade D. Brown, a young man, whose 
violent political opposition to the republican party, has rendered 
him extremely obnoxious in this town ; and there is too much 
reason to suspect, that he suffers his political zeal, to carry 
him beyond the limits of his duty, and lo make his office, as 
far as possible, subservient to his political views ; that from his 
appointment, until the present political division in this state 
had assumed a degree of virulence, and awakened party ani¬ 
mosity, he had paid very little personal attention to the discharge 
of the duties of his office, but farmed it out to others as little en¬ 
titled to public confidence as himself. Your petitioners, there¬ 
fore, consider it highly important, for the honorable and im¬ 
portant discharge of the duties of post-master in this place, that 


60 


he should be removed, and a man appoinled in his place whose 
character will shield him against like suspicion, and ‘ivill give 

his personal attendance to the duties it requires. 

For that purpose, your petitioners recommend Archibald 
Hay, who lives in a central and convenient situation to accom¬ 
modate the public, and within a few rods of the place where 
the office is now kept, and whose character and standing, will 
make him generally acceptable to this town. 

Robert Bull, Russel Smith, 

Nahum Holbrook, William Cavell, 

David Colman, 

Isaac Warner, 

Thos. Eldridge, 

I certify, that the foregoing is 


Roger Halladay, 

Solomon S. Cowen, 

B. S. Cowen. 

true and correct copy, by 


me compared, with the original now on file in the general post- 
office. THOS. ARBUCKLE, Clerk of appointments. 

Feb. 10, 1821. 


No. 7. 

I certify, that during the session of the legislature, at Alba¬ 
ny, in the winter of 1820, I was a senator for the middle dis¬ 
trict, that my place of residence was in the village of Norwich ; 
that during the session, I had several correspondents in the vi¬ 
cinity of Norwich village ; that 1 frequently wrote letters direct¬ 
ed to said post-office, which, as I was informed by individuals 
to whom they were directed, were not received; that I frequent¬ 
ly was informed by persons in said town, that they bad repeat¬ 
edly MTitten letters to me, which I had not received ; that be¬ 
fore the session closed, it was generally understood by me and 
the representatives from Chenango county, that there was no 
safely in sendingcommunicalions by mail to the village of Nor¬ 
wich, and we had recourse to private conveyances, as frequent¬ 
ly as possible ; and when we sent to that quarter by mail, took 
the precaution to have the letters superscribed in an unknown 
hand, and nearly all the letters we received were also superscri¬ 
bed in a disguised hand, or put in at other post-offices than that 
in the village of Norwich; that I never heard of any complaints 
about letters to and from Albany miscarrying, until after the 
appointment of Mr. Chamberlain ; and I further certify, that 
large numbers of newspapers which I ordered mailed, for dif¬ 
ferent citizens in the town of Norwich and Preston, directed to 
Norwich post-office, were said by the individuals to whom they 
were directed, not to have been received; that I frequently fail¬ 
ed of receiving the Norwich Journal, which I have the best of 
reason to think was mailed for me regularly; sometimes it 
would reach me, two or diree mails after it was due, and on 
my return, I found one number of that paper in the office not 


61 


yet sent, which i should have received several days before I 
left Albany, if the post-master had sent it on in due time. And 
I further certify, that complaints were received by me and the 
three representatives, from Norwich, from a number of per¬ 
sons (all of whom ai^reed in the opinion, that the difficulty was 
in the Norwich post-office) very earnestly soliciting us to take 
some measures for the removal of Mr. Chamberlain, and the 
appointment of some other person ; that we applied to the Hon, 
M. Van Buren, to join his exertions with ours to procure the 
removal, and also, several others whom we supposed acquaint¬ 
ed with the post-master-general ; and I further certify, that I 
received apetition in 18 19, signed by a majority of the inhabit¬ 
ants of said village, requesting the appointment of Lot Clark, 
Esq. to w'hich I added a request of my own, and I sent it on to 
the general post-office-; and further, that I have no doubt, that 
Samuel Campbell, Samuel A Smith and 'fhomas Humphrey, 
Esqrs. who were representatives at that time, viz. 1820, from 
the county of Chenango, will, if applied to, corroberate the 
above statement ; but they are in remote parts of the county, 
and I have not the opportunity to apply to them. 

JOHN NOYES. 

Nornvich^ February 1, 1821. 

No. 8. ! ■ ' 

PoHt-Office Departments^ Washington City,^ 9th Feb, 1821. 

Sir—I herewith transmit copies of sundry papers, relative 
to the several subjects on which you request information. 

I have the honor to be, 

Yours, &c. 

The Hon. Henry Meigs. R. J. MEIGS, Jr. 

No. 9. 

(COPY.) 

Albany., April'\9lhs^ 1809. 

Dear &V—1 am sorry to trouble you so often in relation to post- 
offices in this state, but as I informed you, there is great cause of 
discontent at that establishment in some sections of the state. I 
have long since heard of the abuses detailed in the enclosed af¬ 
fidavit, and I am desired by Mr. Stewart to enclose you ihis. He 
is a gentleman of respectability, holding the office of district at¬ 
torney for many of the western counties, and I have no doubt 
has been much injured in his feelings by Mr. Woodruff. You 
can judge of the correctness of Ins conduct. I have no confi¬ 
dence in this same Mr. Woodruff; he has been a republican, 
turned quid, and from that catterpillar state became a federalist. 
Robert Monnel, Esq. lives at Chenango Point, and is every way 
qualified for the office, should Woodruff be removed. 

Your very ob’t. serv’t. 

HonabH Gideon Granger^ Esq. A. SPPiNCER. 


62 


No. 10. 

Albany^ July 1810. 

Dear Sir —Owing to my absence from home in attending 
the circuits, I have not been able to execute the trust you repos¬ 
ed in me until lately; and after having obtained all the necessa¬ 
ry information, I filled up the v/arrant of discharge with the 
name of Hugh Buckly, whom I believe to be the fittest man to 
discharge the duties of the ofiice of the village of Cayuga. 

He gives information that Badger refuses to deliver over the 
key and papers to him, tho’ repeatedly called on and demanded 
to do so; and it is not improbable that he and his confederates 
are taking measures to induce you to confirm him in the office 
—you will know how to act, should there not be a commission 
to Buckly. 

I now enclose you his oath of office and bond, and have only 
to observe, that Badger is a drunken miserable creature, and 
that the office there has been so conducted as to excite general 
suspicion of fraud and villainy. 

Perhaps in future you had best communicate with Buckley, 
directing to him at Auburn, the next post-office on this side. 

With respect and esteem, 

Yourobt. serv. 

(Signed) A. SPENCER. 

Hon. Gideon Granger-. 

I certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy by me 
compared with the original now on file in the General Post-Of¬ 
fice. THOS. AllBUCKLE, Clerk of Afi^iointments. 

Feb. IGth, 1821. 

No. 11. 

Honab'e Dcivitt Clinton.^ 24 March^ 1803. 

JVew- York. 

Abraham B. Rapalje, the P. M. at Fishkill, has resigned, and 
recommended Greenleaf Street for his successor. As it is of 
importance to have a suitable character for that office, I must 
^0 have a suitable jiersonfor that office*) I must beg of 
•?ou to take the labor of appointing him for that purpose. Blanks 
are enclosed. (Signed) ' GIDEON GRANGER. 

A true copy from the record on the books of the General 
Post-Office. THOMAS ARBUCKLE, Clerk. 

26thFcb’ry, 1821. 

No. 12. 

Whereas, in a certificate signed by Samuel M^Kinstry, and 
found among the printed documents, accompanying his Excel¬ 
lency’s communication to the legislature, it is stated as follows, 
to wit: “ that upon offering my vote for senators, at said elec¬ 
tion, (1819) my right to vote was challenged, by some person 


63 


then present, upon which I stated that I claimed a right to vote 
by reason of an estate in dower, belonging to my wife ; and the 
said Charles Borland, jiin. then one of the said inspectors, there¬ 
upon decided, that such estate gave me a legal right to vote for 
senators, and my vote was accordingly taken by said inspec¬ 
tors Now we, tlie undersigned, inspectors of election for the 
year 1819, for the town of Montgomery, in Orange county, do 
hereby certify, that when the said Samuel M‘Kinstry offered 
his vote at said election, the said Charles Borland, jun. was of 
opinion, that said M‘Kinstry was not entitled to vote upon the 
estate in dower of his wife, but that the board of inspectors were 
of a different opinion, and permitted M‘Kinstry to vote ;—‘and 
we further certify, that said Charles Borland, jun. did not decide 
that M‘Kinstry had a right to vote, as is stated in said M‘Kin- 
stry’s certificate, but holding his own opinion, acquiesced in the 
decision of the board of inspectors. Peter Milliken, 

Samuel Hunter, 

Montgomery^ January 23, 1821. Nathaniel Caldwell. 

No. 13. 

We the undersigned, inspectors of election, in the town of 
Montgomery, in the county of Orange, at the last annual elec¬ 
tion in said town, do hereby certify, ihat Charles Borland, jun. 
Esq. w'as dlso inspector at said election ; that during said elec¬ 
tion the said Charles Borland, jun. did pursue a dignified and 
impartial course of conduct during said election. 

Joseph Elder, inspector, Peter Miliken,^ 
Samuel Hunter, Abr’m Hunter, 

Montgomery-) 22dJan^ 1821. 

No. 14. 

Whereas, in a certificate signed by Daniel M. Frye, and dat¬ 
ed the 6th Jan. 1821, and found among the printed documents 
accompanying the late communication of his excellency the 
governor to the legislature, it is stated as follows : “ I do also 
certify, that at the said election, one Abraham Moul, was per¬ 
mitted to vote for governor and senators; that in Febmary lasty 
all the real estate of the said Moul was sold at sheriff’s sale, and 
purchased by me, and a deed therefor executed and delivered 
to me by the sheriff; that the said Charles Borland, jun, was 
one of the attornies wdio obtained the judgment upon which the. 
said property was sold; that after the sale, I paid ilie costs to 
said Borland, and told him I had purchased the property, and 
the said properly has ever since belonged to me.” And whereas- 
itis intended from said certificate to be insinuated, that Charles- 
Borland, jun. was present at the board of inspectors when said 
Moul voted, and knowing that he had no right to vote, yet, that 
the said Borland, as one of said inspectors, permitted him to do- 


61 


so. Now wc, Peter Millikcn, Joseph Elder, Samuel Hunter 
and Abraham Hunter, four of the inspectors of election for the 
town of Mon^j 2 :omeiy, in Orange county, do hereby certify, that 
when the said Abraham MouI Avas permitted to A'ote at the elec¬ 
tion in April 1821), the said Charles Borland, jun. was not pre¬ 
sent at the board—that the polls of the election in the morning 
were just opened, and the said Borland had not then attended, 
and that said Moul’s vote was the first or second vote taken that 
morning. Peter Mdliken, Joseph Elder, 

Jan. 23, 1821, Samuel Hunter, Abr’m. Hunter, 

Reception of the Yice-President in Nevv-York. 

A, 

I hereby certify, that in the month of March last, I attended 
a meeting of officers, who had served under his Excelleney Da¬ 
niel D, Tompkins, now Vice-President of the United States, for 
the purpose of giving a public testimony of their confidence in 
his integrity and patriotism, by forming an association, to re¬ 
ceive him on his return to this city. That at the said meeting, 
Col. Geo. W, Brown, Col. Daniel E. Dunscomb, Lt, Col. Alex. 
M. Muir, and myself, were appointed a committee of correspon¬ 
dence, That I have read the certificate of Charles N. Baldwin, 
which was transmitted by his Excellency CTOvernor Clinton to 
the house of assembly on the 18th inst. ; that so far as that 
there was a correspondence between the meeting and the 
Vice-President,*’ is utterly destitute of truth ; on the contraiy, 
both the committee and meeting carefully avoided making the 
Vice-President acquainted with their intentions ; and that I at¬ 
tended all the meetings, but never saw either Gen. Giles or 
Capt, Evans there. And further, that having the honor of a 
personal acquaintance with Joseph G. Swift, Esq, formerly a 
Brigadier-General in the corps of Engineers, and a knowledge 
that he had served also, I called upon him, and obtained his as¬ 
sent to join the association, by his signing the roll. 

GEOPGE B. RAPELYE. 

Ncv)~York^ 2^th Januarij^ 1821. 

City and County of JVevj-York^ ss. 

William W. Tompkins being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, 
that he was one of the association of officers formed for the pur¬ 
pose of testifying their respect to his Excellency the Vice-Pre¬ 
sident, in grateful remembrance of the important services ren¬ 
dered the state during the late war: J’hat it originated with 
Col. Geo. W. Brown, Col, Daniel E. Dvmscomb, and Major 


65 


Geo. Hodgson : That he was informed of the contemplated as¬ 
sociation, by Col. Brown, a little time previous to the first meet¬ 
ing: That he attended the first and all subsequent meetings : 
That he was present when the corresponding committee were 
appointed, consisting of Col. Geo. W. Brown, Col. D. E. Duns- 
comb, Lieut. Col. Alex. M. Muir, and Major George P. Rapel- 
ye ; and that said committee were instructed to avoid letting 
his Excellency know the proposed compliment, in order that he 
might not evade the intended honor; That this deponent has 
read the certificate of Charles N. Baldwin, transmitted to the 
legislature, with many others, on the 18th inst, by his Excellen¬ 
cy De Witt Clinton : That he was present at the meeting at 
Tammany Hall, referred to in said certificate: That Com. Evans 
was not at said meeting, nor at any of the meetings of said asso¬ 
ciation : That this deponent has examined a copy of the orig- 
nal role ; that Com. Evans’s name is not on it: That there was 
no such person as Lieut. Flinn, of the U. S. Navy, at said meet¬ 
ing, nor at any of them ; neither were there any officers of the 
naval service attached to the association, except General Ro¬ 
bert Swartwout, navy agent, and Coh John P. Decatur, naval 
store-keeper. Purser Wise’s name was on the roll, but he be¬ 
lieves he never attended any meeting of the association ; That 
this deponent was appointed orderly sergeant: That he never 
saw Gen. Giles with the association on any occasion: That he 
believes no person belonging to the service of the U. S, were 
any ways instrumental in getting up this association ; and that 
the statement of Charles N. Baldwin, relative to Com. Evans, 
Gen. Giles, Lieut, Flinn, and also respecting the correspon¬ 
dence with his Excellency the Vice-President, is totally desti¬ 
tute of truth. And further the deponent saith not. 

WILLIAM W. TOMPKINS. 
Sworn to before me, this 27th day of Jan. 1821. 

JSTathan B. Graham^ Coimnissioncr. 

C. 

City and County of JWro- York, ss. 

George W. Brown being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that 
he was a member of a committee of correspondence, appoint¬ 
ed by a meeting held some time in the month of March last, by 
the officers who served under his Excellency D, D, I’ompkins, 
during the late war; and that the object of the said meeting was 
to testify their respect for their late commander, on his arrival 
in this city; and that there was no preconcert whatever, with 
the gentlemen named in the certificate of Charles, N, Baldwin, 
nor with any other officer of the pneral government; and that 
the object of the said meeting did not originate with eiiher of 
the gentlemen mentioned in the said certificate. 

9 


G6 


And this deponent further saith, that it is untrue that there 
was a correspondence between the meeting, or the committee, 
and the Vice-President, relative to his arrival from Albany, and 
that the same was expressly avoided; nor was there any com¬ 
munication with the Vice-President relative to the same. And 
this deponent farther saith, that Captain Evans, of the United 
States navy, and superintendent of the navy-yard, Brooklyn, and 
Lieut. Flinn, never did, to the knowledge of this deponent, at¬ 
tend any such meeting. And this deponent further saith, that 
he attended all the meetings of the said officers, except the gen¬ 
eral parade, when sickness prevented him from joining his 
brother officers in their testimonial of respect to their late com¬ 
mander. And further this deponent saith not. 

GEO. W. BROWN. 
Sworn this 27th day of Jan. 1821, before me, 

William Seaman^ Commissioner* 

I certify, that Geo. W. Brown is a respectable man, and that 
he is entitled to full credit, 

W. SEAMAN. 

D. 

George Hodgson, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, 
that he was one of the officers who associated themselves as a 
volunteer corps, for the purpose of testifying their respect to 
his Excellency D. D. Tompkins, Vice-President of the Unit¬ 
ed States, their late commander in chief, on his arrival in this 
city, in the month of April last. And this deponent further 
saith, that there was no preconcert whatever with the gentle¬ 
men named in the certificate of Charles N. Baldwin, annexed 
to Gov. Clinton’s message of the 18th inst. to the legislature 
of the state, or any other officer whatever, in the United States’ 
service, and that the same did not originate with either of tlie 
said gentlemen. And this deponent further saith, that the said 
intention originated with Col. G. W. Brown, and this deponent, 
and they together, consulted Col. D. E. Dunscomb, and Major 
G. B. Rapalye, and that the intention of the said association, 
was to shew to the world, that their confidence in the integrity 
of the Vice-President, was undiminished, notwithstanding the 
numerous calumnies and aspersions thrown out against him, 
by political opponents. And this deponent further saith, that 
it is untrue, though asserted in the said certificate of Charles 
N. Baldwin, “ that there was a correspondence between the 
meeting and the Vice-President, relative to his intended arrival 
from Albany,” but that such communication was intentionally 
and purposely avoided, and the committee of correspondence 
w'ere so instructed by the meeting. And this deponent further 
?aith, that according to the best of his knowledge, he was pre- 


07 


sent at every meeting of said officers, and at the parade, and 
that Capt. Evans, of the United States’ navy, nor Lieut. Fliiin, 
of the same, never assembled with us at either of the said 
meetings, and that this deponent acted as serjeant-major of said 
association of officers, and had a perfect opportunity to observe 
the attendance of every and each officer, at the said meetings ; 
and further this deponent saith not. 

GEO. HODGSON. 

Sworn this 27th day of January, 1821, before me, 

Wil iam Seaman^ Qommiasioner. 


E. 

To Samuel B. Romaine^ Esq. Chairman of the committee of his 
Excellencij the Go-vernor's communication^ of the \%th of Jan>=‘ 
uary, 1821, 

Sir —In the certificate which I made, dated December, 1820, 
relative to the meeting of officers at Tammany-Hall, for the 
purpose of making arrangements forthe reception of the Vice- 
President, on his arrival in this city, I have discovered that I 
unintentionally, and through inadvertance, committed an error, 
which I am desirous of correcting, I certified, that Captain 
Evans, of the navy, and superintendent of the navy-yard, at 
Brooklyn, and also Lieut. Flinn, of the navy, were present at 
the meeting. I now believe, that there is no lieutenant or oth¬ 
er officer, in the navy, of the name of Flinn ; and 1 am also 
satisfied that Capt. Evans was not at the said meeting. 1 do not 
know Capt. Evans. I saw a gentleman in the room who I 
was told was Capt. Evans, by a person who now denies having 
told me so. In this manner I was led into the error of taking 
another person for Capt. Evans. 

When called upon to make a statement of what I knew of the 
meeting at Tammany-Hall, I stated that I did not know Capt. 
Evans, -^nd that I was only told that Capt. Evans was in the 
room. The person who wrote the certificate worded it difier- 
ently. 

I am contradicted by George W. Brown, George Hodgson, 
William W, Tompkins, and George Rapelyea, in that part of 
my statement which relates to a correspondence between the 
Tice-President and the committee ; but I believe it to be cor¬ 
rect, their affidavits and statements to the contrary notwithstand¬ 
ing. I obtained my information from a member of that com¬ 
mittee, whose veracity I cannot doubt, and who is too well ac¬ 
quainted with the fact, to make an affidavit to the contrary. 

I did expect that I should be summoned before the commit¬ 
tee of which you arc chairman, where I would have made 


65 


these explanations ; but finding it improbable that such a course 
^vill be adopted, I take the liberty of addressing this to you. 

1 remain, sir, 

Your very humble serv’t. 

CHARLES N. BALDWIN. 

New-York, 28th February, 1821. 

F. 

New-York, 15th February, 1821. 

To Samuel B. Romaine^ Esq. 

Chairman of the committee on the Governor's message. 

Sir, 

I have received your communication of the 11th instant, 
and avail myself of the earliest occasion for a reply. The char¬ 
ges which have been preferred against me in a recent message 
from the governor of this state, I have hitherto deemed of too 
unimportant a character to merit attention ; havihg ever enter¬ 
tained the opinion, that the self-respect of that American must 
be low indeed, who could consider his political reputation af¬ 
fected by the unsupported assertions of obscure and uninform¬ 
ed foreigners. 

In my own instance, two men, to whom I was never introduc¬ 
ed, and Avhorn, until recently I never saw, (the one a native of 
Russia, and the other a Scotchman) together with an Irishman, 
whose name I never recollect to have previously heard, but who, 
it appears, has been in this country a sufficient length of time, 
to be entitled to the benefit of our insolvent act, have been in¬ 
duced to tender to his excellency, the charitable modicum of 
their services,as corroborative of his official declaration,that the 
officers of the general government have “ acted in opposition 
to the state administration, influenced by motives of an or¬ 
ganized and disciplined hostility.** 

That pending the last gubernatorial election, my feelings 
were strongly interested,is a fact, which,as anative citizen, I glo¬ 
ry in avowing; nor does it lessen my exultation to discover, in the 
ranks of those from whom I differ, the very persons who, dur¬ 
ing those times when “ without was fighting, and within was 
fear,'* were either arrayed in secret hostility to this country, or 
in open alliance with the enemy. 

Mr. Pindar has asserted, that he heard me declare at a pub¬ 
lic table, that I had “ discharged the baker of the hospital, be¬ 
cause he would not vote forD. D, Tompkins,’* and refers to his 
friend and fellow-alien, Mr. Bogere, for confirmation. Mr. B. 
reiterates the assertion, and adds, that I represented myself, to 
have ‘‘ taken an acUye part in the election, and to have brought 


69 


up several soldiers to the polls.’* Of the standing of these 
foreign gentlemen, I can of course, know little, and even that 
has been received from unsolicited sources, within the last few 
days. Influenced by that sentiment of liberality which assumes 
as a gentleman, every man who has not been proven the re¬ 
verse, indulging that freedom of expression incident to the for¬ 
tuitous intercourse of a public house, and not suspecting that 
the casual observations of an humble individual, among those 
whom he conceived to occupy a rank above that of ordinary 
tatlers, could assume an importance worthy of being embodied 
with an official communication of the executive, I did not hes¬ 
itate, when the occasion invited, to express my disapprobation 
of the entire administration of the present governor, as hostile 
alike to the tried friends and to the true interests of the repub¬ 
lic. 

Permit me, sir, to inquire, if even amid this social inter¬ 
change of sentiments, in which I neither suspected the coolness 
of reserve or the watchfulness of suspicion, it comports with 
our ideas of common sense, that I should have hazarded the 
assertions attributed to me, and which I shall demonstrate to be 
asfar from fact, as they are irreconcilable to our sense of ordi¬ 
nary propriety ? Is it, sir, probable, that an officer, whose term 
of uninterrupted services, embraces a period of almost nine 
years, should have so far committed himself, as to have avowed 
at a public table, the dismissal of a baker for not having voted 
agreeable to his wishes ; or the compulsory urging to the polls 
of a few soldiers, when that very avowal would have betrayed 
him to the world as an idiot or a tyrant ? 

But to the point. I solemnly declare that I never discharg¬ 
ed from my employ, any baker, or other person, employ¬ 
ed in the service of the hospitals over which I have had control, 
from any political consideration or motive whatever ; and that 
since my having taken charge of the infirmary on Bedlow’s is¬ 
land, in July, 1818, no baker has been engaged, except the 
soldier detailed for that duty ; and that at the last election, I 
was never present at the polls when a U. S. soldier voted or of¬ 
fered to vote—that at no time during the said election, did I at¬ 
tempt to influence the opinion of any soldier, directly or indi¬ 
rectly ; and that to the best of my knowledge and conformably 
with my most religious belief, no U. States officer, excepting 
myself, or soldier attached to the garrisons in this harbor, ei¬ 
ther Voted or was present at the polls. 1 beg leave, sir, now 
to ask, whether it be more probable that I should have proclaim¬ 
ed at a “ public table,” what must inevitably have operated to 
my own prejudice, and W'hat I knevvto be at variance with fact; 


70 


or that the statements of the two gentlemen, should have re¬ 
sulted from misconception or inadvertency ? 

The only conversation I recollect, analogous to that referred 
to in the certificates of Messrs. Pindar and Bogere, was one in 
relation to the propriety of retaliating upon the enemies of the 
government, the measures adopted by themselves. At the 
time of the spring election of 1815, and while having charge 
of the general hospital of this district, in the course of a con¬ 
versation on the numerous rumors, then in circulation, relative 
to the tory merchants of the city having dismissed from their 
employ, all those mechanics and others friendly to the cause of 
of the country, during which, my baker, Mr. Bogert, came in¬ 
to the office, I enquired of him, in a jocose manner, if his po¬ 
litics were of the “ blue light” cast, as in that case I should he 
induced to apprehend some unpleasant consequences would 
result to those of my patients who consumed his bread. The 
sentiments of Mr. Bogert, corresponding with my own, the sub¬ 
ject was dismissed, nor am I sensible of having since alluded 
to it, unless in a cursory discourse at Washington-Hall, about 
the time of the last election. 

It is true, as represented by Mr. Derrnot, that I offered my 
ticket at the poll of the 6th ward, in which I staid during a short 
residence in town, and that it was there I received the informa¬ 
tion of my being included in the first, as the post at which I was 
stationed, was attached to that section of the city ; but it was 
reserved for the present occasion, to make me acquainted with 
the circumstance of my “ labouring under a sfiecies of dis~ 
franc his ementf as announced in the message of the governor. 
Unfortunately for his excellency, the remainder of this man’s 
statement is made up of the visions of his own brain. I wore 
cockade f or other badge at the polls; I saw no soldier 
while there, nor did I, by “ bragging^^ of having exercised a pri¬ 
vilege, happily in this country common to the humblest citizen, 
evince either the obstreperous exultation of an emancipated 
helot, or the boisterous violence of a renegado. 

I have the honor to be, sir. 

With the highest sentiment of respect. 

Your most obedient servant, 

JNO. H. SACKETT, 

Post Surgen^ U. S. 

Xote .—I take the liberty of subjoining the certificate of Lt. 
Ager, which I neither saw or heard of, until subsequently to 
its publication. ^ 


7J 


G. 


Bedlozv*^ Island^ Feb. 6, 1821* 

1 hereby certify, that no baker has been employed at Fort- 
Wood, Bedlow’s Island, where Dr. Sackett was employed as 
surgeon, for eighteen months preceding this date, the baking 
having been performed by a private soldier, belonging to the 
garrison, during the whole of that period ; and it consists v. ith 
my knowledge, that no person whatever, has been dismissed 
from the island, in the course of these eighteen months. 

Signed, W. D. AGER. 

• Lt. U. States Artillery. 


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